Woking Economic Development Strategy

2017-2022 Version Date Comment Changes by 1.0 10/03/17 Final Draft Simon Matthews 1.1 15/06/17 Map update/minor corrects Simon Matthews

Contents Theme 5: Place Making: Summary of Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities ...... - 39 - Our vision ...... - 3 - Place Making: Priorities for action - summary ...... - 40 - Our aim ...... - 3 - A Vision for Woking 2050 ...... 41 1. Introduction ...... - 3 - A 2050 Vision for Woking’s Economy ...... 42 2. Our achievements ...... - 4 - Introduction ...... 42 3. The strategic framework and its themes ...... - 4 - 1. Population growth and urban living ...... 42 Theme 1: Economic dynamism: enterprise, innovation and 2. Transport Infrastructure and Peak Oil ...... 44 entrepreneurship ...... - 7 - 3. Big Data and Smart Cities ...... 46 Overview ...... - 7 - 4. Environment and Climate Change ...... 47 What the evidence shows ...... - 7 - 2050 Vision: Summary of Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities ...... 48 Theme 1. Economic Dynamism: Summary of strengths, challenges, 2050 Vision: Priorities for action ...... 49 opportunities and priorities ...... - 12 -

Economic Dynamism: Priorities for action - summary ...... - 12 -

Theme 2: Economic strength: Business clusters, growth companies, retention, internationalisation and resilience ...... - 13 - Overview ...... - 13 - What the evidence shows ...... - 13 - Theme 2. Economic Strength: Summary of strengths, challenges, opportunities and priorities ...... - 20 - Economic Strengths: Priorities for action - summary ...... - 20 - Theme 3: Workforce skills, education & employment ...... - 21 - Overview ...... - 21 - What the evidence shows ...... - 21 - Theme 3: Workforce, skills, employment and education: Summary of strengths, challenges, opportunities & priorities ...... - 27 -

Workforce Skills: Priorities for action - summary ...... - 28 - Theme 4: Connectivity and Infrastructure ...... - 29 - Overview ...... - 29 -

What the evidence shows ...... - 29 - Theme 4: Connectivity and Infrastructure: Summary of strengths, Produced for Woking Borough Council by Matthews Associates (UK) Ltd challenges and opportunities ...... - 34 - Authors: Simon Matthews, Lindsey Simpson, Dr. Lauren Read & Julia Owen Connectivity & Infrastructure: Priorities for action - summary ...... - 34 - A: Catsfields House, 37 Vincent Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3JB Theme 5: Place Making ...... - 35 - M: 07941 618390 Overview ...... - 35 - T: 01306 884848 What the evidence shows ...... - 35 - E: [email protected]

- 2 - Our vision markets in London, the South East and abroad. Businesses choose Woking for these locational advantages, for its skilled workforce and for its business-

The vision for Woking, the Region’s most ambitious town friendly, pro-growth agenda. Growing numbers of people choose to live in Woking because of the employment opportunities but also due to the quality Woking will be the region’s leading economic hub, driving of life it has to offer due to factors such as the vibrant town centre, the attractive suburbs and nearby countryside as well as access to a wide variety prosperity and growth and attracting national and international of cultural and leisure opportunities. investment. With super-high connectivity, it will lead the way on smart, sustainable growth and will be a great place for people As the UK transitions to a new independent status outside the EU, Woking is to live, work and play. ideally positioned to exploit the combination of its location adjacent to London, unrivalled connectivity by road, rail and air, dynamic cross-sectoral business base, outstanding knowledge economy and a young culturally Our aim diverse, highly educated and skilled workforce. Benefiting from substantial recent town centre regeneration and an ambitious programme of continued Our aim is for Woking to be recognised as a premier global business location investment and development, Woking is ready to grasp and benefit from new offering a connected, quality environment with a range of first class retail, global opportunities. leisure and cultural amenities as well as high quality, affordable housing and services for its highly skilled workforce. Nevertheless, Woking cannot take this success for granted - past growth is not

always an indicator of future performance. Growth is a competitive business and nearby towns and cities are actively competing for private and public sector investment. Woking is small compared to some of these locations; 1. Introduction there are opportunities, but there are also challenges facing the area and Woking is a dynamic growth town with many competitive advantages, ranked there is a need for decisive intervention to achieve Woking’s vision. 1 in the top 20% of UK local authorities for economic vibrancy . Its companies, including many high-tech and knowledge based businesses, generate an This Economic Development Strategy sets out the main priorities for the next 2 estimated turnover of £23.1bn . A major factor in attracting these businesses five years from 2017 to 2022, building on the progress made and experience is Woking’s location at the heart of two of the South East’s main growth gained from implementing the previous strategy3. corridors which run north-south from London to Southampton and east-west along the route of the M25. Woking has exceptional communications; it is within easy reach of the UK’s two main airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, with fast trains to London taking twenty-five minutes, access to the national motorway network via the nearby M25 and, via the M3 and A3, to the channel ports and the continent. This high connectivity gives access to extensive

1 Vibrant Economy Index 2016 Grant Thornton 3Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2017, Woking Borough Council 2 The Woking Economy: Report and Accounts 2015/16 Woking Borough Council

- 3 - 2. Our achievements This strategy is based on three established growth ‘dimensions’, each with a set of indicators, based on studies of high growth locations4: In the last five years, there has been real progress in implementing the economic development strategy 2012 to 2017. Woking Borough Council has listened and has worked with partners to: • economic • Significantly improve the core town public realm • demographic • Encourage a wider and better quality range of retail in the centre • environmental/place-based. • Considerably improve the town restaurant offer Economic Demographic Environment and • Promote the town and wider borough via ‘Celebrate Woking’ indicators indicators place indicators • Support the wider visitor economy via targeted interventions Dynamism indicators • Increase hotel bed space across multiple sites • Growth in the • Ensure Woking is recognised regionally as a strategic growth location business base • Workforce skills and • Connectivity: rail, • New business qualifications road and air • Engage with businesses to support growth, retain existing firms, attract creation • Knowledge economy • Digital connectivity new companies and inward investment • Business density employment • Quality and • Commit to continued investment in the town, most recently Victoria • Knowledge • Economic activity availability of • Workforce housing Square economy • Innovation levels demographics • Quality of the built • Maintain its commitment to sustainable development Strength indicators • Diversity of and natural • Recognise the Borough’s natural capital and countryside • High value sectors communities environment, • Education and • Quality of life & clusters • Growth firms university links including cultural 3. The strategic framework and its themes • International and leisure outlook amenities Woking aims to capitalise on its advantages and to continue to grow and to attract and retain more businesses, people and investment. This is not growth at any price, however; growth has to be good growth where the needs of communities and the environment are considered along with the future development of the area. As well as a productive and well-balanced economy, good growth means: secure jobs which pay appropriate wages; sufficient and affordable, well-designed housing; good quality transport without the need for excessively long commutes and a high quality of life. Figure 1: Growth dimensions and their indicators

4 Understanding Local Growth: BIS economics paper no.7 2010 Investing in city regions: D. Coyle and B. Rosewall, Enlightenment Economics Oct 14 Where growth happens: The high growth index of places Grant Thornton Autumn 2014

- 4 - Woking’s interconnectivity with London and the South East interact in a polycentric networked area. Travel-to-work and travel-to-learn and leisure patterns are increasingly complicated. In this context, to continue In spite of predictions that advances in technology and communications would to attract and retain the best businesses and the highly skilled people that they lead to the “death of distance”5 and that place would become much less require, Woking will need to differentiate its offer clearly from the many urban relevant, it is increasingly accepted that cities and wider city regions are 6 centres in the wider city region. drivers of growth and productivity . This is due to both the spatial interrelationships between places and the space of flows - interactivity Our themes between firms, people and information.

The three growth ‘dimensions’ and their related indicators underpin the framework for developing this strategy, which comprises the five headline themes:

1. Economic Dynamism 2. Economic Strength 3. People Skills & Workforce 4. Transport & Infrastructure 5. Place Making

These have been set out in diagrammatic form in Figure 2 and cross reference throughout this strategy.

The twelve themes in the previous economic development strategy (2012- 2017) have been simplified and consolidated into five but the underlying aim remains the same – to build on success in order to become the first-choice growth location for businesses and people in Surrey and the wider South East region. Woking is part of the wider London and the South East ‘mega city’ region where what happens in the capital could not happen without its surrounding The final chapter addresses the 2050 vision for Woking’s economy. areas and urban centres and vice versa. People, goods, services, information, knowledge and ideas are not confined to a single location but increasingly

5 The Death of Distance: How the Communications Revolution Will Change Our Lives F. 6 Locational Investment – where to target investment for maximum economic returns RICS Cairncross 2001 Harvard Business School Press Research Report May 2012

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Figure 2: The five themes for the economic development strategy

The following sections assess Woking’s performance under each of these five themes against the appropriate indicators, identify the challenges and set out the priorities for action over the lifetime of the economic development strategy.

- 6 - Theme 1: Economic dynamism: enterprise, innovation and What the evidence shows entrepreneurship Growth in the business base 8 Woking has a business population of just under 5,000 enterprises . In common Economic dynamism indicators with the rest of the South East this is largely made up of micro enterprises with fewer than 10 employees which account for just under 90% of registered • Growth in the business base businesses (Table 1).

• New business creation • Business density Size (employees) Number of % • Knowledge economy businesses • Innovation levels Micro: 0-4 3,960 80.5 5-9 465 9.5 Overview Small: 10-19 245 5.0 20-49 145 2.9 The benefits of increased scale are nowhere more apparent than in the Medium: 50-249 85 1.7 competitive performance of the business population. Larger, denser urban Large: 250+ 25 0.5 business populations tend to be more dynamic with higher growth, innovation Total 4,925 100 7 and productivity rates than more dispersed ones . The benefits for businesses Table 1: Woking business size profile of “agglomeration” or locating together include a bigger pool of skilled labour, Source: UK Business, Activity, Size and Location ONS 2015/Matthews Associates access to stronger supply chains and knowledge spill-overs which help to stimulate innovation. A greater range of high quality businesses providing Micro (0-9) Small (10 to Medium (50 to Large services and goods improve the urban offering and attract more highly skilled 49) 249) (250+) people to live there, creating a virtuous circle and stimulating further growth. Woking 89.94 7.83 1.73 0.51 Surrey 90.99 7.25 1.39 0.38 Dynamism is not just about growth and increased scale, - growth in the South East 89.79 8.34 1.50 0.37 business base will tend to occur in any case due to population increases and Table 1a: Percentage of businesses by size band in Woking, Surrey and the South rising GDP. Dynamism, therefore, looks at how enterprising, innovative and East. Source: Source: UK Business Counts: Enterprises 2016 ONS/Matthews Associates knowledge-intensive businesses are, the indicators for this are, as well as growth in the stock of businesses, the relative density of the business As Table 1a, Woking has slightly fewer micro businesses than Surrey, but population, the size of the knowledge economy, the rates of business proportionately more small businesses than Surrey, but fewer than the South formation and the extent of innovation. The evidence shows that Woking East as whole. However, Woking does have proportionately more medium performs relatively well or very well on nearly all these measures although it and large sized businesses than both Surrey and the region as whole, does less well on business formation rates. indicating that it may be better at growing and/or attracting medium and large siz ed companies.

7 Duranton 2004, Fujita, Krugman and Venables 1999, Glaeser 2008.

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100.00 In terms of size band, the greatest percentage increase in Woking has been in the medium size bracket (50 to 249) which grew by over 30% between 2010 90.00 and 2016, followed by micro businesses (26%) as Table 3 shows. Woking 80.00 outperforms Surrey and the South East in both these size bands and in the 70.00 large companies size band (250+).where Woking’s stock of businesses has 60.00 increased by a quarter.

50.00 Micro 0-9 Small 10-49 Medium 50- Large 250+ 40.00 249 Woking 26% 7% 31% 25% 30.00 Surrey 21% 13% 22% 12% 20.00 South East 19% 15% 20% 10% 10.00 Table 3: Percentage growth in the business base 2010 – 2016 0.00 Source: UK Business Counts: Enterprises 2016 ONS/Matthews Associates Micro (0-9) Small (10 to 49) Medium (50 to 249) Large (250+) However, Woking appears to be less good at growing small businesses in the Woking Surrey South East 10 to 49 size band. Although this size band has increased by 7% between 2010

Figure 3: %age of businesses by size band in Woking, Surrey & S.E. Source: UK and 2016, this is circa half the rate of increase in the stock of small businesses Business Counts: Enterprises 2016 ONS/Matthews Associates in Surrey and the South East, a finding which is investigating further in Theme 2: Economic Strength. In Woking, the business population is growing rapidly and has increased by a quarter since 2010. This is a much faster rate of growth than in Surrey, where New business creation rates the business base has still grown significantly by more than a fifth. In the South Business creation rates are a good measure of the dynamism of the local East, although the business base has also increased over the same period, its economy. Although the new business formation rate in Woking at 77% in 2016 rate of growth is nearly six percentage points behind that of Woking. (Table is ten percentage points higher than that of the South East, it is significantly 2.) below that of Surrey as Table 4 and Figure 4 show. This gap has not narrowed significantly since 2010. 2010 2016 Net gain % growth 2010 2016 Woking 3,950 4,920 970 25% Woking 74% 77% Surrey 52,285 63,140 10,855 21% Surrey 86% 86% South East 33,0375 39,2085 61710 19% South East 67% 67% Table 2: Business population growth in Woking, Surrey and the South East from 2010 Table 4: New enterprises per 10,000 Working Age Population to 2016 Source: UK Business Demography, ONS population estimates 2016/ Matthews Source: UK Business Counts 2016: Enterprises/ Matthews Associates Associates

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Figure 5: Percentage of businesses born in 2010 surviving by year in Woking,

Surrey and the South East Source: UK Business Demography 2015/Matthews Associates Figure 4: New enterprises per 10,000 Working Age Population Source: UK Business Demography 2015, ONS population estimates/ Matthews

Associates Business density However, Woking performs well on business survival rates as Figure 5 shows. A key measure of the dynamism of a local economy is business and Businesses started in Woking in 2010 have consistently outperformed Surrey, employment density. In the South East in 2015 there were 705 enterprises per the South East and England for each of the following five years in terms 10,000 working age population whereas in Woking there were 7959, very percentage surviving. So although Woking does not have the same success in similar to that of Surrey (794), indicating that Woking has a relatively high starting up businesses as Surrey, it does seem to be better at creating business density compared to the South East. businesses that survive and is 6% above England at the five year mark. In keeping with this, Woking’s jobs density is at 0.92 per 10,000 working age 1-year 2-year 3-year 4-year 5-year population, similar to Surrey at 0.91 but considerably higher than the South Woking 92 77 65 55 47 East as a whole (0.85). Businesses and jobs are concentrated in Woking to the Surrey 88 74 60 51 44 same extent as they are in Surrey but not currently to a greater extent than South East 88 75 60 50 43 the county on this measure. England 87 73 57 48 41 Table 5: Percentage of businesses born in 2010 surviving by year in Woking, Surrey and the South East Source: UK Business Demography 2015/Matthews Associates

9 ONS population estimates 2015/ UK Business Counts ONS 2015

- 9 - Knowledge economy It is difficult to measure innovation without carrying out primary research. The Where Woking is significantly different is in the very high concentration of the Surrey Business Survey 201411 found that 52% of Woking business knowledge economy in the borough. Woking’s business population is notably respondents were prioritising research and development of new products and more knowledge intensive than those of both Surrey and the South East; in services in the year ahead compared to 46% of Surrey businesses as a whole. 2016, the proportion of knowledge-based businesses in Woking was 27% In the absence of detailed survey data, research and development expenditure compared to 17% in Surrey and 14% in the region as a whole10 as Figure 5 is used as a proxy measure for innovation. Woking’s top 12 companies on R&D shows. expenditure collectively invested over £71.3 million in R&D during 2015/16, a 17% increase on the previous year12. Chief among them was the Fidessa Group Furthermore, Woking’s knowledge economy has grown at a significantly faster which invested over £26m in R&D (Table 6) . pace in since 2010 than that of both Surrey and the region as a whole. (Figure 6). The biggest growth appears in terms of the number of enterprises has been Company Sector R&D R&D in computer consultancy from 330 firms in 2010 to 515, in 2016 although 2015/16 £s 2014/15 £s software development has also risen significantly from 75 to 125 companies. Fidessa Group plc Financial Technology 26,224,000 23,794,000 Platform Specialty High Tech chemicals 15,200,000 16,000,000 Products plc 30 Independent Technology Software 12,241,000 8,035,000 25 Systems FMC Technologies13 Oilfield Equipment 8,680,000 4,131,000 20 SAB Miller plc Brewers 3,300,000 2,640,000 McLaren Automotive Supercar manufact. 2,593,000 3,582,000 15 2010 Vision Engineering Optical instruments 1,140,948 788,466 10 2016 Microsaic Systems plc Analysis equipment 854,486 927,379 5 Conject Ltd. Software 712,666 781,725 Innovate Services Ltd. School restaurants 277,322 145,004 0 STL Group Property services 62,410 46,925 Woking Peritus International Subsea engineering 59,181 88,435 Surrey South East Table 6: Examples of stated R&D Investments 2015/16 and 2014/15 Source: Source: The Woking Economy Report and Accounts 2015/16 Woking Borough Council, Arcom, Hamlyns LLP & Morrisons Solicitors Figure 6: Knowledge economy %age of business population in Woking, Surrey and NB: Above excludes separately accounted for subsidiary companies South East 2010 and 2016 Source: UK Business Counts: Enterprises, ONS 2016/ Matthews AssociatesInnovation levels .

10 ONS UK business counts: enterprises 2016 using ONS Knowledge Economy definition: 12 Source: The Woking Economy Report and Accounts 2015/16 Woking Borough Council, Aerospace & Transport; Communications; Computing; Creative content; High Tech Financial Arcom, Hamlyns LLP & Morrisons Solicitors Services; IT Services; Medical devices; Other Tech Consultancy; Pharma/ Biotech; Software 13 Now part of Technip FMC plc 11 Source: Surrey Business Survey 2014: Surrey Connects, GFK

- 10 - The relative strength of sectors with known high expenditure on research and The Council’s work in supporting start-up businesses was acknowledged but it development can also provide an indication of innovation propensity. The top was felt that helping successful businesses grow should be a greater priority. five sectors performing nationally on this measure are pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles and parts, computer programming, information services and Some respondents felt that the advantages are not, perhaps, promoted aerospace. Woking has some notable businesses in these sectors including: enough and the perception of Woking as a business location could be further improved. • Pharmaceuticals: Pharsafa, GlucoRX, Nextpharma Holdings • Motor vehicles and parts: McLaren Although there are some global brands in the town, Woking is not yet generally seen as the major growth hub it has the potential to be. • Computer programming and software: Wickhill plc, Rubicon

Software, Fidessa Group, Capgemini technology consulting, SFW, Recruiting and retaining skilled people and particularly graduates are an issue Optimus Group, Financial Express Holdings, Independent Technology for employers in Woking as elsewhere in Surrey and the wider region and the Systems competition for skills and talent is strong. (This issue is dealt with more fully • Aerospace: Pattonair, AIM Aviation, Supercraft under Theme 3.)

Consultees also suggested that there is a need for Woking to be known as a

What the consultation has found ‘Centre of Excellence’ for something and that there was an opportunity to exploit McLaren brand and reputation in advanced engineering. Woking has many strengths as a business location including its excellent communications and transport infrastructure. Some respondents also felt that there was a limited amount of commercial space available and although the Council is addressing this, there may also be There is a range of business accommodation and some good quality business a need to exploit more agile working opportunities in the future. parks in the surrounding areas.

The council is business-friendly and was described by one respondent as “forward thinking and proactive”

The Council’s strategy of making sure business needs for premises and business support are met and that the town is as business friendly as possible is paying dividends with a rapidly growing business population.

The Council has improved public spaces in the town centre which is relatively crime free. Free wifi, business support, including Woking Works with support for start-ups and existing businesses, and a range of business to business networks, including Asian Business Forum, add to the offer for businesses.

- 11 - Theme 1. Economic Dynamism: Summary of strengths, challenges, opportunities and priorities Ref: Economic Dynamism: Priorities for action - summary ED 1 Continue to actively promote business start-up through Woking Woking is rapidly growing as a business location with an increase in the Works. business base of over a quarter in the last six years, outperforming both Surrey ED 2 Extend Woking Works’ remit to supporting new business to business and the South East. Its ratio of both businesses and jobs to population is also growth and ensure that start-ups are developed to the next stage. significantly higher than average. Knowledge-based businesses are strongly in ED 3 Help to ensure there is sufficient commercial stock of the right quality evidence and its strength as a centre of knowledge-based employment is to meet demand from the growing business population e.g. move on increasing, particularly in the IT sector. space and easy-in, easy-out space such as C2I incubator ED 4 Investigate whether Woking can host a technology hub/incubator Innovation, measured by investment in research and development, appears to linked/aligned to local key technology sectors be strong, helped by the presence of companies in sectors with high ED 5 Review University business links on Research & Development and innovation propensity such as software development. It is not known how innovation for high Research & Development investors strong the linkages are between the innovative, knowledge intensive ED 6 Support and review the range of networks for existing businesses, companies in Woking and nearby universities are and how much collaborative especially those aligned to Woking’s key sectors activity is taking place. In the absence of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships it ED 7 Help to ensure that supporting business infrastructure is in place both might be a good idea to carry out some further investigation in this area to see physical and wider business support e.g. conference centre if HEI business links on R&D require further support. ED 8 Work closely with Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership to maximise local investment within the Borough

ED 9 Promote Woking as a regional “Growth Hub” location, consider Woking businesses value their town and are good at networking, making the Enterprise Zone designation should the opportunity arise most of what Woking has to offer.

Business start-up rates, however, are below the county average and growth in the critical 10-49 size band is below average for the county and region. Growing the businesses of tomorrow should be a priority. Woking Works does an excellent job in supporting start ups and micros but its remit may need to be extended to supporting the pipeline of growth companies.

Monitoring employment space is carried out annually, should there appear to be an excessive loss to residential use via Permitted Development/Prior Notification, further protection of key sites should be considered.

- 12 - Theme 2: Economic strength: Business clusters, growth What the evidence shows companies, retention, internationalisation and resilience High value sectors and clusters Woking’s two biggest sectors are: Information and Communication and Professional, Scientific and Technical. Woking’s business base has a Economic strength indicators significantly higher share of businesses in these sectors in percentage terms

• Presence in high value sectors and clusters than Surrey and the South East. (Figure 7)

• Performance and growth-orientated companies

• International outlook

• Business retention and inward investment

• Resilience

Overview A strong economic base will stand the area in good stead, be more resistant to adverse conditions and economic shocks and provide a platform on which to build for the future. This means: • A good sectoral balance • Some degree of specialisation or clusters of companies, preferably with university linkages and strong local supply chains, as this has been shown to help to embed clusters and retain businesses in areas • The presence of ambitious, growth-orientated companies • Good business retention rates • Buoyant inward investment levels • Businesses with an international outlook and/or businesses who are trading outside the local market. Figure 7: Businesses by broad industrial group as a percentage of the whole, Woking Surrey and the South East This strong base with good employment prospects will in turn attract people Source: UK Business Counts: Enterprises 2016 ONS/Matthews Associates with skills who will be followed by more business investment, creating a virtuous cycle.

- 13 - High value sectors and clusters Planet Centre, in Woking and Thameswey Group (a subsidiary of Woking Borough Council) Oil and gas Woking has a significant oil and gas cluster including a number of major oil Technology companies such as Kuwait Petroleum International, Petrofac, and Wood Woking has a strong cluster of technology enterprises with numerous IT and Group Mustang. There is evidence of a strong local supply chain with around software development companies including those already referred to under 20 companies in the sub-sector: Support activities for petroleum and natural Theme 1 but also optical instruments, electronics, analysis and laboratory gas extraction sector and related activities as well as a number of specialist equipment, technical consultancy and advanced engineering. consultancies supporting the cluster. This sector is vulnerable to fluctuations in the oil price, especially short-medium price deflation. The sector is currently Other specialisms refocussing itself as an ‘energy’ sector incorporating more renewable energy Location quotients (or LQ) are valuable way of quantifying how concentrated sources within its portfolio. a particular industry, cluster or occupation is in a region or area compared to the country as a whole. It can reveal what makes a particular area unique.14. A Financial and business services score of more than 1 using this method indicates that there is a degree of Woking also has strong representation from financial and business services specialism in a particular industry in a given area. Analysis reveals that Woking companies, including Capgemini (consulting, IT and outsourcing), Fidessa has some highly specialised sectors. In fact, there are more than 20 with an LQ (financial technology) and Old Mutual (financial services & wealth higher than 2.0. as Table 7. demonstrates. management). This sector has been identified as being at risk should a ‘hard’ exit from the EU take place. Close monitoring of this sector is recommended. What is also striking is that so many of them are knowledge intensive and/or high tech and are growing. It will be important to track and nurture the Advanced engineering smaller, knowledge intensive sectors so that the balance is maintained. Woking’s dynamic advanced engineering cluster is driven by McLaren's world- class corporate production, racing and applied technology facilities and also includes major engineering and engineering consultancy companies. There is some evidence of a local supply chain, but the wide sectoral reach of McLaren across many SIC categories and its relatively secretive operation prevent us evidencing a strong local supply chain.

Environmental Technologies There is also a growing cluster of environmentally-focused businesses such as Word Wildlife Fund-UK, which has its international headquarters, the Living

14 LQi = location quotient for the sector in the regional/ economy. LQi =(ei/e) / (Ei/E) where ei= employment in sector in the regional economy; e = total employment in the local region;Ei= employment in industry i in the national economy and E= total employment in the national economy

- 14 - SIC and Sector Woking LQ LQ +/- Given the relatively small size of Woking’s local economy, some of these employ 2015 2011 specialised sectors have relatively small numbers of employees and may be 267.Manufacture of optical instruments & 50 8.82 ! formed of just one or two firms. Woking’s sectors where there is both a high photographic equipment location quotient and a reasonably high number of employees (i.e. >200) are 731.Advertising 1,250 5.38 5.93 - highlighted in yellow in Table 7. In employment terms the 7 largest sectors 291.Manufacture of motor vehicles 1,500 4.70 ! with LQs above 2.0. are illustrated in Figure 8. below. 265.Manufacture of instruments & and 300 3.78 1.74 + appliances for measuring, testing & 4000 navigation; watches and clocks 4000 620.Computer programming, consultancy 4,000 3.66 3.85 - 3500 and related activities 3000 582.Software publishing 75 3.31 2.41 + 2500 1750 1500 1500 205.Manuf of other chemical products 100 3.31 ! 2000 1250 1250 1500 1000 821.Office administrative & support 200 3.21 5.6 - 1000 016.Support activities to agriculture 100 3.11 1.13 + 500 0 931.Sports activities 1,750 3.08 2.67 + 900.Creative, arts and entertainment 400 2.94 2.23 + 256.Treatment & coating of metals; 600 2.94 1.62 + machining 271.Manufacture. of electric motors, 150 2.83 ! generators, transformers, electricity app. 732.Market research & opinion polling 250 2.76 3.63 - 701.Activities of head offices 1,250 2.60 2 + Figure 8. Woking sectors with LQs >2.0 and 1000+ employees 491.Passenger rail transport, 200 2.46 ! Source: Business Register & Employment Survey (BRES) 2016/ Matthews Associates 562. Event catering and other food service 1,000 2.43 2.09 + activities 479. Retail trade not in stores or markets 500 2.13 2.73 - 461.Wholesale, fee or contract basis 175 2.10 1.63 + 711.Architectural & engineering activities 1,500 2.06 2.17 - and related technical consult.

Table 7: Woking business sectors with an LQ quotient > than 2.0 Source: Business Register & Employment Survey (BRES) 2016 ONS/ Matthews Associates

- 15 - Performance and growth orientated companies common cited reasons for relocation out of an area is lack of suitable move- Turnover size bands are a good indication of growth orientation, particularly on space to accommodate business growth and expansion. the band between £1m and £2m. Once companies are over this threshold, the critical mass necessary for growth is likely to have been established, although International outlook other financial measures are also important. Woking performs reasonably well At the level of the business, there is a correlation between exporting and on the higher turnover bands of £5m and above. However, it is a potential employment growth and between exporting and productivity as well as longer cause for concern that Woking has proportionately fewer businesses in the term resilience and survival. However, national data on exporting is only £0.5-1m bracket, key £1-2m and £2-5m brackets (Figure 9.) than both Surrey available at regional level and has to be supplemented by primary survey and the South East. work, if local data is required.

The Surrey Business Survey 2014 found that 26% of Surrey’s companies export regularly and that those more likely to export were in the following sectors:

• Information and communication (46%) • Professional scientific and technical (37%) • Manufacturing (37%) • Transport and storage (35%)

Enterprise M3 LEP have a stated aim to create £2bn of new export markets in the EM3 region. Surrey Chambers of Commerce have been running a series of export readiness events and offer export support service for businesses within Surrey. With easy access to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports and close adjacency to the main Channel ports, businesses within Woking have a number of locational advantages which could be further exploited.

Figure 9: Percentage share of businesses by turnover size band in Woking, Surrey & The Department of Business Innovation & Skills (now BEIS) has mapped the South East. sectors where the UK has capability against sectors where there is increasing Source: UK Business Activity dataset F01: Enterprise by turnover, size band and UK global demand and identified the following 18 sectors as being likely to Local Authority Districts ONS 2016/ Matthews Associates perform well on internationalisation.

This indicates either that the growth conditions in the Borough are not right These are set out in Table 8. below and those where Woking has a significant for businesses within these brackets or they are still growing but relocating business presence15 are highlighted in yellow. out of the Borough when they hit these turnover bands. One of the most

15 A significant business presence has been defined as sectors where Woking has an LQ greater than 1.0.

- 16 - Advanced Defence and Infrastructure Healthcare Services those of the region as a whole as Figure 10 shows, which may indicate a more manufact. security and Life changeable business population. Sciences Aerospace Defence Construction Healthcare Creative industries Agrifood Security Environment Industrial Education, 50 and Water biotechnology skills and training 40 Automotive Transport Pharmaceutic Financial (airports, als and services marine, ports, medical 30 railways) biotechnology Chemicals Professional 20 and business services 10 Energy Retail 0 Cross Cutting sectors: technology Less than 2 Cross Cutting sectors: Low carbon 2 to 3 Years Years Old 4 to 9 Years Sectors shaded in yellow indicate significant presence in Woking Old Old 10 or More Years Old Table 8: UK sectors where UK has capability and global demand is forecast to rise. Woking South East England Source: BIS Economics Paper No. 17 UK trade performance across markets and sectors/ Matthews Associates Figure 10: Percentage of business population by age of business for Woking, the South East and England 2013. In the absence of more comprehensive local data on exporting, it seems Source: Neighbourhood statistics 2016,/ Matthews Associates reasonable to assume that, as Woking’s businesses are relatively well represented in sectors with a high degree of globalisation and high export In terms of continuing to attract and retain businesses, it is helpful to propensity, that Woking would score reasonably well on this indicator. understand why businesses locate where they do in order to underpin Woking’s strategy for inward investment and business retention. Outward- Inward investment and business retention looking, growth businesses that sell outside their immediate market, There is an absence of local data on these measures. Woking’s higher survival regionally, nationally or internationally, tend to have strong preferences rates and strong representation of larger and higher turnover companies may relating to location. Service “exporters” in the sense of businesses trading indicate that business retention and inward investment are reasonably good. outside their local market, show strong preferences for urban locations – 61% Larger firms tend to make choices about where they locate, whereas smaller of them are located in cities16. Foreign firms are even more likely to choose a firms and micro businesses have stronger connections to the birth place of the city centre location. business. On the other hand, Woking’s businesses are somewhat younger than

16 Source: Trading Places: Why firms locate where they do. Centre for Cities 2016

- 17 - Goods “exporters”, on the other hand, tend to locate outside cities and prefer the urban hinterland; 44% of them are based in this type of area nationally. Urban environments offer access to knowledge, skills, infrastructure and support services but can be congested and more expensive. Goods firms prefer cheaper locations with more space and easier transport links. Cities and urban business locations in the UK are tending to grow because of globalisation and the overall shift to services in the economy.

Therefore, promoting and supporting access to markets, knowledge, skills, premises and infrastructure can deliver competitive advantage to one area over another. Supply chains also help to anchor firms in particular locations and supply chain initiatives may help in this respect.

Resilience A context of uncertain forecasts for the UK economy in 2017 means • A likelihood of reduced business investment due to Brexit, although some high profile investments have been announced post referendum • Rising prices and potentially slowing growth will mean interest rates are likely to remain low, against inflationary pressures

• Some sectors will be more vulnerable than others as they are more Figure 11: UK sectors with high dependency on EU trade. dependent on EU trade Source: Open EU 2016

• The UK’s reputation as a key location from which to access EU markets is Woking would seem to be fairly highly exposed to disruption according to this weakened in light of Brexit uncertainties analysis, although there may be a medium to high chance of obtaining similar • Potential opportunities and benefits from a new independent trading EU access for its important, high-tech and high-value sectors including: position remain unquantified until post-Brexit • Car manufacturing • • Global uncertainties in terms of other EU nations political instability and Professional, scientific and technical companies. • Aerospace potential protectionist measures being adopted in the US However, it is not just exporters who will feel the impact; Treasury, Oxford The most vulnerable sectors with a high percentage of exports to the EU are Economics and LSE are forecasting between a 3% and 8% drop in GDP illustrated in Figure 11. following departure from the EU which will have an adverse impact on consumer spending and sectors such as retail and food/restaurant are likely to be affected. However these forecasts are subject to regular revision.

- 18 - Opportunities of Brexit mostly due to demographic factors but also the UK’s relatively flexible Although the downside risks of Brexit have been widely publicised, many economy. This depends, however, on the UK being successful in the long run commentators and researchers believe that Brexit could present the UK with in developing its trade and investment links with faster-growing emerging significant new economic opportunities that independence from the economies, to offset a likely weakening of trade and investment links with the bureaucracy and membership costs of EU membership could bring. EU after Brexit”.

Re-establishing closer links with historically important trading partners, re- What the consultation has found visiting the trading opportunities with current and former Commonwealth countries and forging closer trading links with the new US administration, Consultees endorsed the findings of the data analysis and agreed that Woking have all been cited as offering new post EU membership economic is a first-class business location which has a strong economy that should be opportunities. built on with key businesses, partners and stakeholder organisations.

Both the Bank of England and Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) have There is an aspiration to foster further high-tech innovation through a positively revised their pre-referendum growth predictions. The Organisation University School of Innovation, Advanced Engineering & STEM. for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also revised up its UK 2017 growth forecast due to a less severe impact from the referendum Some respondents felt that more could be done locally to engage with large vote, although was tempered by a lower forecast for 2018. employers and to promote inward investment through the Invest in Surrey initiative, or Woking’s own inward investment proposition The post-referendum fall in value of sterling has reportedly helped exporters and specifically the inbound tourism trade, although some UK manufacturers There was a recognition that Woking is highly dependent on what happens in are reporting cost imported components is largely offsetting the export cost London and particularly in relation to the departure from the EU, that Woking advantage. Woking based manufacturer Harvey Water Softeners with an might be vulnerable. annual turnover of £24m predict opportunities for UK manufacturers arising 17 from Brexit but have concerns over the terms of the exit deal . There was feedback over encouraging local supply chains, including the

Council, supporting local businesses via ‘meet the buyer’ events At the time of writing (January 2017) prior to Article 50 being triggered it is not known whether the UK’s exit from the EU will be ‘soft’ or ‘hard’. A recent report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) predicts the main negative impacts of Brexit will be felt between now and 2020, with the UK post 2020 returning to a long-term positive trend in-line with predicted Global trends.

The PwC report states: “The UK is projected, despite the medium-term drag from Brexit, to be the fastest growing economy of the G7 on average over the whole period to 2050, with annual average growth of around 1.9%. This is

17 Martin Hurworth, MD, FT 23/01/17 & Manufacturer Magazine/Business Census 13/01/17

- 19 - Theme 2. Economic Strength: Summary of strengths, challenges, Nine-Elms in south-west London will be the new location for the prestigious opportunities and priorities US embassy, with other international embassies reportedly looking at 19 relocating nearby to it . Woking’s combination of quality office space, Woking has a relatively highly specialised economy with a number of high multicultural mix, comparatively cheaper housing and fast train times to value sectors and clusters with particularly strengths in IT and technology- Vauxhall (circa 30 mins) could offer this new diplomatic cluster an ideal based business. It has a strong presence in sectors with a high export support function and back-office location. propensity including IT and technology and professional, scientific and technical. It has above average proportion of companies in the higher turnover Although some of Woking’s key sectors have been identified at possible risk bands above £5m, indicating the presence of ambitious, growth-orientated by the predicted negative impacts of Brexit, Woking’s underlying locational companies. advantage within the south-east; adjacency to London; good road, rail, air connectivity; quality business environment; knowledge based workforce and There is a lack of local data on inward investment and business retention but business friendly local government all will be factors in positively positioning the presence of larger companies which tend to make choices about where Woking to be resilient to the negative impacts of Brexit and to take advantage they locate, together with the rapidly growing business population referred to of new opportunities that independence from the EU could bring. With the UK in the previous chapter, gives an indication that Woking is good at attracting expected to widen its global reach beyond the EU, Woking’s aspirations to be and retaining businesses. the region’s leading global business location directly align with this.

However, the dependence on larger companies could make it less resilient. The loss of Woking’s largest company in terms of turnover, the brewing company, SAB Miller, due to a takeover has highlighted the fact that Woking’s Ref: Economic Strengths: Priorities for action - summary success in attracting large companies and headquarters also leaves it ES 1 Monitoring and supporting Woking’s high tech knowledge intensive vulnerable to large scale employment losses if companies relocate. In this case sectors and clusters Woking secured Japanese brewer, Asahi18, which is retaining some of the jobs, ES 2 Identify and help promote local supply chains although on a much-reduced scale. ES 3 Help support businesses export and become export ready, Similarly, the presence of sectors with a high export propensity could also focussing on businesses in high export propensity sectors increase exposure to the effects of UK’s decision to leave the EU, depending ES 4 Develop a proactive 2017-2022 ‘business retention’ strategy on the terms that are ultimately agreed. ES 5 Develop a quality 2017-2022 inward investment proposition ES 6 Proactive engagement strategy with key Borough businesses Woking’s strength of providing cost effective, high quality, space for central ES 7 Map & nurture high growth companies & stimulate University links London based businesses and the strong presence of financial and IT support ES 8 Investigate further why Woking is below Surrey and SE levels for companies could be developed to provide knowledge intensive supply chains £0.5-1m, £1-2m and £2-5m share of companies. for new sectors such as diplomatic and embassy support functions.

18 Asahi purchased Miller Brands and has chosen to locate in Woking 19 “Embassy” magazine issue 46, Nine-Elms could become home to Dutch and Chinese embassies, with a poll stating area could become a new diplomatic district.

- 20 - Theme 3: Workforce skills, education & employment

100

Indicators 90

• Workforce skills and qualifications 80 • Knowledge economy employment 70 • Economic activity • Workforce demographics 60 • Diversity of communities 50 • Education and university links 40

Overview 30 A skilled and productive workforce is a prerequisite for a competitive and 20 productive economy. Higher levels of skills are associated with higher levels of 10 innovation, productivity and growth. 0 Skilled and qualified individuals are able to compete more effectively in the NVQ4 And NVQ3 And NVQ2 And NVQ1 And labour market and to take advantage of economic opportunity. Opportunities Above Above Above Above to learn and progression pathways are important for those who are less well Woking Surrey South East qualified and those who are not engaged in the labour market, as well as for young people about to enter the labour market. Figure 12: Qualifications of the working age population (16-64) What the evidence shows Source: ONS Annual Population Survey Jan 2015 to Dec 2015 ONS/ Mathews Associates

Qualifications Employment by occupational group The resident population of Woking is highly qualified with 46% of its working In line with its relatively highly qualified resident population, Woking has a age population qualified to Level 4 and above. This is on a par with Surrey high percentage of people employed in the top five occupational groups and (46%) and higher than the south east (40%) as Figure 12 shows. a lower percentage in the bottom four than both Surrey and the South East as a whole as Figure 13 demonstrates.

Occupational groups are classified in table 9 below but Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Major Group 1 includes Managers, Directors and Senior Officials, Professional Occupations and Associate Professional and Technical occupations.

- 21 - Occupational Group Woking Surrey South (%) (%) East(%)

60 Soc 2010 Major Group 1-3 56.3 56.5 49.6 1 Managers, Directors and Senior Officials 12.6 14.2 12.0 50 2 Professional Occupations 25.7 24.5 22.1 40 3 Associate Professional & Technical 18.0 17.6 15.4

30 Soc 2010 Major Group 4-5 22.9 20.1 20.9

20 4 Administrative & Secretarial 11.4 11.7 10.7

10 5 Skilled Trades Occupations 11.5 8.3 10.2

Soc 2010 Major Group 6-7 11.7 14.2 16.1 0 Soc 2010 Major Soc 2010 Major Soc 2010 Major Soc 2010 Major 6 Caring, Leisure And Other Service # 8.4 9.0 Group 1-3 Group 4-5 Group 6-7 Group 8-9 Occupations Woking Surrey South East 7 Sales And Customer Service Occupations # 5.7 7.1

Figure 13: Employment by occupational group Woking, Surrey and the South East Soc 2010 Major Group 8-9 9.2 9.3 13.4 Source: ONS Annual Population Survey July 2015 to June 2016/Matthews Associates 8 Process Plant & Machine Operatives # 3.7 4.8 Woking has a lower percentage of Major Group 1: Managers, Directors and 9 Elementary Occupations # 5.6 8.6 Senior Officials, resident in the Borough but a higher proportion of Major

Groups 2 and 3, Professional and Associate Professional & Technical than Table 9: Employment by occupational group in Woking Surrey and the South East 20 Surrey and the South East as Table 9. shows. Source: ONS Annual Population Survey July 2015 to June 2016/ Matthews Associates

Woking also has a higher representation of Group 5: Skilled Trades than both Surrey and the South East.

20 # = Sample size too small for reliable estimate % is a proportion of all persons in employment, residence based

- 22 - Proportion of knowledge workers of Surrey. While females earn about 3% less than their Surrey counterparts, Woking has a significantly higher percentage (41%) of employees in the Woking males earn nearly 8% less and appear to be missing out, to some knowledge economy (KE) than both Surrey (35%) and the South East (30%) as extent, on the benefits of the local knowledge economy. Figure 14 demonstrates. This very high knowledge economy employment is a real strength and demonstrates the importance of Woking’s high value Area Male Female Total business base. £s £s £s Woking 621.3 427.3 523.1 Surrey 675.0 440.0 545.9 South East 583.1 376.6 479.1 45.00 Table 10: Weekly median full time wages in Woking Surrey and South East 2016 40.00 Source: Annual Survey of Household Earnings 2016, residence based. ONS/ Matthews Associates 35.00 30.00 A number of factors may be involved here but it would seem that the very highest Occupational Group SOC Group: Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 25.00 do not live in Woking in such high concentrations as in Surrey, whereas Woking 20.00 residents are somewhat overrepresented in SOC 5: Skilled Trades. These lower 15.00 wages may also be linked to the fact that Woking is a net exporter of labour; 53% of residents commute out of the borough on a daily basis21 and, although 10.00 the second most popular destination is the City of London, the other 5.00 destinations in the top five for outward commuting numbers are Guildford, Runnymede, Elmbridge and Surrey Heath which may not pay premium wages. 0.00 (See also Theme 4: Connectivity for a fuller explanation of commuting trends). Woking Surrey South East Higher levels of self-employment may also be a factor in Woking.

KE employment 2010 KE employment 2015 This factor was reflected within the consultation where some businesses cited higher wages (and better career prospects) in other locations (mainly London) Figure 14: Percentage of knowledge workers in Woking, Surrey and South East 2010 and 2015 as issues impacting on local staff recruitment and retention. Source: Business Register and Employment Survey 2016/ Matthews Associates Employment However, wages for Woking residents do not reflect this high value 85% (51,800) of Woking’s working age population (age 16-64) is in employment locally. Table 10 shows that, although the median weekly wage employment, which is higher than for Surrey (80%) and the South East (77%). in Woking is higher than that of the South East, it is about 4% lower than that Self-employment

21 Source: Census 2011

- 23 - Woking’s self-employment levels at 14% are also higher than those of Surrey people 65+ as Figure 15 shows. However, Woking’s working age population is (12%) and the region as a whole (12%). Woking males have particularly high self- notably younger as the blue line in the graph in Figure 16. shows. employment rates (18%) whilst female rates are significantly lower at 12%. However, more females are self- employed in Woking than Surrey (9%) and the 16 South East (8%)22. These relatively high self-employment rates contribute to Woking’s high employment and indicate an entrepreneurial workforce. 14

12 Unemployment Conversely, there is lower than average unemployment in Woking. In 2015/16 10 just 2.4% of the working age population was unemployed compared to 3.2% in 8 Surrey and 4.1% in the South East as a whole23. Woking fares well on young people’s unemployment; Surrey County Council data (2013), found that Woking 6 had only 92 young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). 4

Workforce demographics 2 0 100% Aged Aged Aged Aged Aged Aged Aged Aged Aged 80% 18 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64

60% Woking Surrey South East 40% Figure 16: Percentage of working age population by age band in Woking, Surrey 20% and South East, 2015 0% Source: ONS Population estimates 2017, Matthews Associates.

Woking Surrey This significantly younger working age population is an asset not only for its South East employers, as ageing workforce will be less of an issue here than it is regionally, Aged 65 and over Aged 16 - 64 Aged 0 - 15 but also for Woking, since this age group tend to be more positive about the town and what it has to offer in retail and leisure activities. Consultation Figure 15: %age of population by age group in Woking, Surrey & S.E 2015. feedback supported this hypothesis with younger workers expressing a greater Source: ONS population estimates 2017/Matthews Associates affinity to Woking’s modern urban grain than some older workers.

Woking has the same percentage of people of working age as Surrey and the South East but slightly more young people aged 0-16 and slightly fewer old

22 Source: Annual Population Survey July 2015 – June 2016 23 Source: Annual Population Survey July 2015 – June 2016

- 24 - Ethnic diversity and cross-cutting cultural events such as Diwali, closer aligning with the Woking’s population is more diverse than the county or the regions as a whole: diversity and vibrancy experienced in major cities such as London. 16% of Woking residents are from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups compared to 10% in Surrey and 9% in the South East. (Figure 17.) The economic benefits of migration are much debated, academic papers regularly cite that highly-skilled migrants often filled shortages in key occupations and brought new and diverse skills, complementing host workers and boosting innovation and economic growth. The advantages that diverse workforces could bring in terms of creativity and innovation are also cited24.

Woking’s ethnically and culturally diverse population brings economic advantages, offering protection against the labour shortages and ageing workforces that less diverse areas are already experiencing due to falling birth- rates and increased longevity. There is also evidence that more diverse populations stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation25 in industry as well as other fields such as arts, cuisine and sports.26

Education and university linkages

Secondary education Woking offers a range of excellent state and independent secondary schools with popular schools creating strong housing demand locally. Educational Figure 17: BAME groups as a percentage of the resident population in Woking, attainment rates are above average for pupils resident in Woking. In 2014, Surrey and the South East Source: ONS Census 2011/ Matthews Associates 61% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A* to C

including English and Mathematics. This compares favourably to Surrey as a Among the BAME groups, the highest percentage is of Asian and Asian British 27 whole (60%) and the South East (57%). ethnic background. This group makes up 70% of the non-white population in

Woking compared to 58% in Surrey and 56% in the South East. At state secondary level (years 7 – 11) there are seven schools in Woking, two

of which offer sixth form options: This ethnic diversity of population affords Woking a multi-cultural advantage, • St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School (became an Academy where businesses and workers from outside the UK can feel ‘at home’. in September 2016 with plans to expand in 2018 28) Diversity often leads to greater vibrancy especially across food, drink, clothing

24 Phillipe Legrain political economist: Immigrants—Your Country Needs Them (2006) 26 International Organisation for Migration quoted in House of Lords Library Note: Immigration Oct 2010. 25 “The Economics of Cultural Diversity: Lessons from the British Cities” Max Nathan London 27 Source: DfE statistics 2016 School of Economics 28 Woking Borough Local Transport Strategy & Forward programme September 2014

- 25 - • Hoe Valley School currently on an interim site will be opening its new site Further and Higher Education in 2018/19, there are future plans to offer a sixth form on the new site Woking College (1280 students, with capacity for 1380 students) is the only • Adjacent to (although not technically in) the Borough is Fullbrook School dedicated, non-selective state sixth form college in the Borough, which was in New Haw, and Gordons School in West End both serving the Borough cited within the consultation as a significant issue, as many sixth form students for secondary and sixth form education. are required to travel outside the Borough to continue their education in selected subjects. Brooklands (Weybridge) and Farnborough and Guildford all Surrey has a significant independent education sector, Woking has five adjacent to the Borough offer further education. independent secondary schools, one of which provides sixth form study.

The location of the college has also been cited as an issue, over 20mins walk Access to international schools is an important part of Woking’s locational from the town centre, currently with an uncertain dedicated bus service to the offer, helping to attract and retain foreign-owned and global companies in the campus30. Previous aspirations to relocate the campus to central Woking were Borough, directly aligning with the ambition to be a global business location. halted with the economic downturn, although these aspirations to be centrally

located remain should the right site become available. Woking is located adjacent to a natural cluster of respected international schools including: The International School of London (ISL) in Woking, offering There are currently no Higher Education facilities within the borough although education from 2-18 for 250 students; ACS Cobham with 1,500 students from there remains interest in exploring the option of developing a Surrey 2-18; ACS Egham with 600 students from 3-18 and TASIS American School in University campus in Woking in the future. Woking does have reasonable Thorpe with 740 students from 3-18. All these international schools offering geographic access to nearby HE provision with Surrey University in Guildford, education up to International Baccalaureate (IB) level and many offering key University of London, Holloway Campus, Egham and Kingston University in international and US educational qualifications. Woking’s inclusion in and Kingston, although with such a knowledge based workforce a lack of dedicated adjacency to this cluster adds another unique selling point towards positioning HE provision it is certainly a gap with Woking’s educational offer. it as a global location from businesses to be based.

Deprivation Further school expansions are likely to be required in Woking to meet the Although Woking is a relatively affluent town, this affluence can hide families future need for additional school places. Over the period 2015 - 2020, it has and individuals who are struggling to cope with the high housing costs and cost been estimated that an between 630 and 840 additional primary school places of living in the area. There are also a number of areas of deprivation: two areas will be needed in Woking and, to meet the primary age ‘bulge’ coming through in Sheerwater are within the 14% most deprived nationally and are the most the system, nine additional forms of entry at secondary will be required (i.e. deprived in Surrey. The regeneration of Sheerwater including the provision of 1350 secondary school places in total)29. housing and employment as well as better access to transport is aimed at

addressing this issue.

29 Woking Borough Local Transport Strategy & Forward programme September 2014

30 Abelio bus services have recently resigned from SCC contract, there is uncertainty about future provision.

- 26 - Woking not being a ‘University’ town was cited as being a disadvantage, that What the consultation has found nearby Guildford exploited. The siting of a HE campus closely aligned with one of Woking’s key sectors such as advanced engineering was suggested. Consultees were proud of the local diverse workforce offering a good mix of ethnicity, skills and ages.

However, recruiting suitably qualified people to senior level positions and entry Theme 3: Workforce, skills, employment and education: Summary of level jobs is challenging for many employers and Woking suffers from the strengths, challenges, opportunities & priorities perception (and often reality) that nearby London pays significantly higher wages and offers enhanced career prospects. The Woking resident population is highly qualified and a high percentage is employed in the top occupational groups. Knowledge economy employment Some consultees cited past perceptions of Woking was a barrier to recruiting in the borough is markedly higher than average, well above that of both Surrey quality staff, Woking needed to continue to promote itself as a modern and the South East. attractive place to work. However, high levels of out-commuting and somewhat lower wages indicate Housing costs and availability are considered a critical threat to recruiting and that Woking residents may not be benefiting as much as they might from the retaining staff in the area. local knowledge economy.

Education provision is generally good. However, the sixth form provision tends Woking residents are entrepreneurial with higher than the regional and to be highly selective and some consultees felt that this could disadvantage county rates of both male and female self-employment. High employment and some Woking students who may not be able to access local, high quality low unemployment contribute to the dynamic local labour market. provision. Woking’s population is ethnically diverse and Asian and Asian British groups Surrey Skills Board has also pinpointed the lack of students following STEM make up 70% of BAME residents. subjects as an issue. The working age population is significantly younger than that of both Surrey Younger professionals stated a greater affinity to Woking’s more urban and the South East which is a benefit to employers for whom the ageing environment than older professionals. workforce will be less of an issue than in the region as whole, provided they recruit locally. However, the numbers of students following STEM subjects and A major employer that recently relocated to Woking stated that the loss of the accessibility of high quality sixth form provision may be issues. staff (as a result of the move) was significantly lower than expected, with staff soon adapting to and now embracing the benefits of their new location. Primary and secondary education provision is a strength and attainment rates are above average. Access to International schools are an important part of the offer to employers, especially foreign owned/managed.

- 27 - However, the growing population means more school places may be required and there are some concerns about the very selective nature of local sixth Ref: Workforce Skills: Priorities for action - summary form provision. WS 1 Prepare for possible devolution of adult skills budget to Local The lack of FE and HE provision in the Borough may mean it is more difficult Authorities by identifying priorities – skills for productivity, to foster education business links beyond school level, although FE and HE employment and progression (Autumn Statement 2016) facilities are available relatively close by in Guildford, for example. WS 2 Promote STEM skills, encourage links with organisations such as SATRO, events such as ‘The Big Bang’ and initiatives such Considering Woking’s knowledge based economy and key sectors we believe graduate placements, such as SEPNET there is an opportunity to encourage a specialist HE campus to the town, WS 3 Form a locally-focused, employer led Woking skills group, possibly aligning with or being in partnership with a number of key employers, possibly as a strand within Woking Works such as McLaren. WS 4 Encourage key local employer input into the wider Surrey Skills Board to influence the county-wide strategy WS 5 Encourage linkages with the Further & Higher Education sector and help facilitate and stimulate employer engagement WS 6 Encourage local recruitment, particularly by knowledge economy employers WS 7 Encourage secondary schools to promote new opportunities available via apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships WS 8 Support aspirations to relocate Woking College campus within the town centre WS 9 Work with nearby International Schools cluster to promote Woking as a location for international businesses. WS 10 Work with Surrey University and others to investigate options for siting a HE campus within the Borough

- 28 - Theme 4: Connectivity and Infrastructure

Indicators:

• Connectivity: rail, roads and airports • Digital connectivity (broadband & mobile) • Quality and availability of housing

Overview Connectivity and infrastructure are key factors in economic competitiveness. Connectedness influences locational decisions by people and businesses and attracts further investment and higher skilled workers. However, this can place strain on the infrastructure and lead to increased congestion and other adverse impacts which have to be addressed or the competitive advantage may be eroded.

Figure 18: Woking Inward and outward commuting flows

What the evidence shows Source: Nomis: Census 2011 data / Matthews Associates

Travel to work patterns Connectivity: rail roads and airports Due to its excellent transport connections, Woking is a net exporter of labour Rail: Woking’s rail connectivity gives it a competitive advantage but is also a and the Borough experiences outward commuting of 27,409 people per day factor in its high level of outward commuting. The rail infrastructure is almost and inward commuting of 20,304. 53% of Woking’s resident population at capacity and growth of 24% is forecast on the South West Main Line over commutes out of Woking to work with Guildford (11.2%), Westminster/City of the period to 2031, Woking station is the second busiest in Surrey and, during London (7.9%), Runnymede (7.2%) and Elmbridge (6.8%) being the principal peak hours, commuter trains operate with very little spare capacity. destinations. 27% of Woking residents work in Woking and a further 12% work from home. Crossrail 2, is the proposed new high-frequency, high-capacity line connecting the capital with Surrey. The possibility of extending Crossrail 2 to Woking and 2011 Census data also shows that the average commute is just over 16km. Guildford is being assessed by Surrey County Council in order to see how 62% of Woking residents in employment travel by car to work and 16% Surrey would benefit. The impact of Crossrail 2 can be contentious locally as it commute by train. A total of 9% travel to work on foot and just 3% by bicycle. is felt it could slow down the regular fast daily train times of 25 minutes, the economic benefits are felt by some to be outweighed by possible further Figure 18. clearly shows Woking has a high rate of inflow and outflow which pressure on housing and other infrastructure, possible increases in outward increases the pressure on the transport infrastructure. commuting and loss of Woking’s under 30 min train time to London USP.

- 29 - Road The motorway system is nearby with the M25, M3 and M4 all in close Woking Borough Local Transport Strategy & Forward Programme September proximity, although access is not necessarily very straightforward and involves 2014 identifies a number of transport infrastructure schemes which could be traveling down local roads, rather than direct routes. This is also true in implemented over the next 15 year period, subject to feasibility and funding relation access to the A3 which is a major artery to the South Coast and ports. which would help to address current and issues meet the growth in future demand. Woking’s connectivity to other local towns is also not particularly good and it Priorities include: lacks an easy fast trunk road access, in the same way that Guildford has the • Improving linkages between residential areas and retail and employment A3. The local road network is relatively weak and there is local congestion centres especially at peak times. All road routes to Woking into involve relatively small • Reducing community severance roads and roundabouts. North-south vehicle movements across the railway in • Improving surface access to Heathrow Woking are limited to the two available crossings in the town centre: Victoria • Improving sustainable transport including walking and cycling Arch Railway Bridge (A320) and Maybury Hill Railway Bridge to the east. Both • Developing Woking station as a public transport interchange hub routes suffer from congestion, particularly at peak times. • Addressing rail capacity issues on the South West Main Line

• Managing congestion through Woking town centre and at other identified The Enterprise M3 Board awarded £2 million to Woking Borough Council congestion hotspots through for example, traffic signal optimisation towards the improvement of road access to the Sheerwater Business Parks.

The aim of the scheme was to reduce congestion in the area and improve Much of this will depend on the outcome of feasibility studies and the direct access to the site. The scheme also received £1 million of grant funding availability of funding. The Government is committed to improving transport from Surrey County Council's Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) and cost and has recently announced a further £500bn investment in productivity £4m in total. It is estimated it could create between 600 and 1,250 direct jobs enhancing infrastructure including transport which may help, as may further across a variety of sectors including engineering and retail. rounds of Local Growth Fund through the Enterprise M3 LEP or possible

underspend. Airports. Proximity to airports brings economic benefits and has been shown to stimulate agglomeration and clustering, increase FDI, exporting and Some of the schemes under consideration in and around Woking are set out 31 innovation in the local economy . Woking lies between Gatwick and in the following paragraphs. Heathrow which provides it with exceptionally good access to the UK’s main airports. There is a direct rail service to Heathrow with journey times of 45 Rail: The Surrey Rail Strategy sets out options to address capacity on the South minutes as well as bus and coach services. There is no direct rail link to Gatwick West Main Line which include construction of a ‘Woking flyover’ railway grade although there are trains to nearby Guildford which take 49 minutes. The separation at Woking, and the reinstatement of the Woking-Camberley (Sturt economic benefits can be seen in Woking’s business performance and Chord) link. particularly the presence of large global companies and headquarters.

31 Source: Airports Commission. Economy: Wider Impacts Assessment 2014 PWC

- 30 - Road: The Highways England M25 SW quadrant study is looking at how to Digital connectivity improve the South West section of the M25 and improve performance In Woking Borough superfast (30Mbps) broadband connectivity is generally between junctions 10 and 16, a stretch which is regularly congested. good, especially in the urban centres, although there are some areas within rural Woking receiving under 10Mbps. The Woking Integrated Transport Package scheduled to run to 2020 will make a further £23.5m investment in significant town centre highway infrastructure improvements, co-funded by Enterprise M3 LEP, Woking Borough Council and commercial partners via S106 receipts. A major scheme to address capacity problems at Victoria Arch (A320) is also planned.

Heathrow Runway 3: Following the Government’s recent announcement preferring Heathrow runway 3 a Southern Rail Access to Heathrow Study has been commissioned and working group formed. The importance of Woking within the study parameters has been acknowledged. Options to improve access are being considered.

Sustainable travel: Woking Borough Council is committed to increasing the opportunities for sustainable travel in the Borough and has continued to build on the legacy of the successful 2008 bid to Cycling England which obtained £1.82 million in funding to improve cycling facilities in the area. Woking is a Figure 19: Broadband coverage map Woking and surrounding areas cycle demonstration town. Source: Ofcom/Matthews Associates

The Surrey Transport Plan identifies that there are still gaps in the strategic The Borough also has its own fibre network which could be expanded and walking and cycling network in Woking but notes that a successful bid to the developed further with additional capital investment. Free wifi in Woking Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) will benefit Woking’s walking town centre adds to the Woking Shopping and Leisure offer. infrastructure by implementing pedestrian and cycle improvements on the approach to Woking Station (e.g. a wayfinger mapping programme at both Mobile phone connectivity is also generally good for voice (2G), and data (3G exits of the railway station). & 4G) although there are some operator not-spots, causing interrupted service

provision, which can be frustrating to both business and residential users. Carshare: Woking Borough Council is collaborating with Enterprise Rent-a-Car

Ltd to offer CarShare, an innovative way of providing car hire to businesses There is a stated aspiration for Woking town to become an Ultrafast and residents that is convenient, affordable and easier on the environment. ‘superconnected city’ (+100Mbps) which would be in keeping with Woking’s CarShare is a membership- based car club scheme that offers short-term, global growth aspirations and in-line with many competing UK towns. affordable access to a car, while positively contributing to the objectives for a cleaner, greener Borough.

- 31 - At Surrey University Research Park, the nearby 5G mobile testbed offers an Figure 20: Ratio of lower quartile house price to lower quartile earnings by Local opportunity for next-generation mobile, as it is developed and rolled-out. Authority in Surrey in 2015 Source: DCLG Live Tables /Matthews Associates

Housing The average house price in Woking in Q1 2016 was £434,331 (rising to The range and availability of affordable housing remains a vitally important £746,715 for a detached property). This compares to a mean house price of component for a successful Woking economy for businesses, their employees £427,472 for the Enterprise M3 region as a whole. Since Q1 2012, the average and future generations of employees. house price in Woking has increased by 29%.

Woking continues to have the third highest ratio of house price to earnings of For median house price to median earnings, the situation is therefore much all Local Authority Districts and Boroughs in Surrey. The average lower quartile the same as for the lower quartile house price to earnings ratio although in house (i.e. valued in the bottom 25% of all houses in the Borough) is valued at this case, Woking is slightly less unaffordable with a house price to earnings th 14.27 times the average yearly earnings of those in the lower quartile of ratio of 13.76, making it the 5 most expensive of the Surrey Districts and earnings. (Figure 19). Boroughs (Figure 20)

This compares to a ratio of 11.78 in 2013, indicating that homes have become less affordable for Woking residents over this period. In England the ratio is 7.2 times the lowest quartile salary for the average lowest quartile house32

Figure 21: Ratio of median house price to median earnings by Local Authority in Surrey in 2015 Source: DCLG Live Tables /Matthews Associates

Source: DCLG Live Tables /Matthews Associates

32 DCLG Live Tables

- 32 - Demand for affordable housing is very high in the Borough but supply and What the consultation has found availability tends to be low due to a lack of land for development and limited Respondents acknowledged that the Borough’s transport infrastructure is a residential construction opportunities on which the Council can negotiate the strength, but it also that it is ageing and urgently needing investment. inclusion of affordable housing.

There are concerns that continuing loss of bus services will increase car use. The West Surrey Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2015) indicates that between 2013 and 2033, Woking will need an additional 375 affordable For young people, ease and affordability of travel in the Borough is key. housing units per annum to meet housing need. Suggestions included options for ‘Oystercard’ type programme, better bus

service and ‘Boris‘ type bikes. The Woking Borough Core Strategy identifies a spatial strategy for Woking

(2010-2027) that includes a target of 5,000 new homes to meet the future Congestion, especially at peak times, was raised although respondents needs of residents and incoming workers. The Strategy also includes a target acknowledged that much of it is a county or even region wide issue and that of at least 292 net additional homes a year. the Council’s ability to directly address it is limited.

In spite of land and other constraints, Woking Borough Council is proactive in The cost and availability of parking was raised frequently, particularly parking meeting housing demand and the following schemes are planned to help meet for those who work in Woking. Season ticket prices were referenced. demand: As numbers of people and cars on the road are growing rapidly in the Borough Kingsmoor Park is a new development of 224 affordable rented homes and there is danger that people will feel that Woking is a ‘difficult commute’ and 147 homes for private sale on the 9.5ha development site north of Moor Lane other locations will become comparatively more attractive. in Westfield. In November 2013, a consortium made up of Kier and Thames Valley Housing, signed a contract with Woking Borough Council to deliver the Links to the main motorways and A3 are still poor and roads in and around mixed-tenure housing development. Woking do not provide good access to the main motorway and trunk road systems. Local roads are often congested. There is little chance of the situation Affordable housing schemes and shared ownership options are part of Woking improving in short-medium term. Borough Council’s goal to help more people live and work in the Borough for example. Brookwood Heath and Knaphill where Paragon Community Housing The Council’s aim to modal shift away from car is recognised but some Group is working in partnership with Woking Borough Council) to offer consultees felt cars are likely to remain the primary mode of transport for most opportunities for first time buyers to purchase their own home. people and the Council should recognise this.

However, one of the major constraints facing Woking in increasing the scale The affordability of housing is a key issue for both employers as they struggle and pace of housing delivery is land availability. Much of the Borough lies to recruit and retain people, and employees as they try and find affordable within the Thames Basin buffer and flood risk is a major issue. accommodation across the Borough.

- 33 - Theme 4: Connectivity and Infrastructure: Summary of strengths, challenges and opportunities Ref: Connectivity & Infrastructure: Priorities for action - summary Located in central Surrey, just 25 miles south west of London, Woking’s C&I 1 Maximise Woking Borough Council County and Enterprise M3 regional and national road and rail linkages, plus proximity to Heathrow and investment in infrastructure to deliver the priorities in the Local Gatwick airports, continues to make it an attractive base for businesses and Transport Strategy & Forward Programme residents alike. Fast trains to London in 25 minutes are a major advantage C&I 2 Work with national partners such as Highways England and compared to many Surrey commuter belt towns which are broadly the same National Rail to promote the improvement of linkages to the distance from London but have much longer rail commutes e.g. Reigate and motorway and trunk road networks including Heathrow Dorking with 45 and 55 minutes respectively C&I 3 Maintain pressure on SCC Highways for SMART travel initiatives

within the Borough including integrated management systems Communications by road are relatively good in that the main motorways and C&I 4 Continue to support the aspiration for ultrafast 100Mbps A3 trunk road are nearby. However there are issues to do with access as connectivity + & enhanced 5G connectivity when rolled-out junctions do not provide direct access to Woking and routes via local roads can be tortuous. The local roads network is relatively weak. Access to the UK’s two C&I 5 Continue to proactively develop housing in the borough and main airports is a major asset, particularly rail and bus routes to Heathrow. enter joint ventures & partnership arrangements as appropriate C&I 6 Explore densification of new developments, to maximise The transport network is already at or near capacity and aspirations for occupation levels on scarce land availability growth will require significant improvements to meet future demand. The C&I 7 Review and promote innovative construction methods and solution will lie partly in improvements to the existing infrastructure and innovative more sustainable buildings partly in encouraging modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport. C&I 8 Maximise the development of and upgrade to Grade A commercial space to meet inward investment requirements Housing, as elsewhere in the South East, is a major issue as the surge in C&I 9 Closely monitor loss of commercial space to residential use and demand leads to rising prices, making both buying and renting unaffordable consider use of planning powers if necessary for many and making it difficult for employers to recruit and retain staff. C&I 10 Encourage the supply of commercial space across all Although Woking Borough Council is proactively trying to meet demand, uses/grades in line with user demand particularly for affordable housing, they are constrained by availability of land C&I 11 Update local housing policies in line with emerging Government and other issues. policy via the February 2017 Housing White Paper

The Governments White Paper on Housing “Fixing our broken housing market” published in February 2017 reflects many of the issues facing the Woking housing situation, although many suggested solutions contained within the paper are still for consultation rather than demonstrating firm Government policy. It is still too early to predict whether the White Paper will have a significant impact on the Woking housing situation.

- 34 - Theme 5: Place Making aim is to create a high-quality, modern environment where businesses choose to locate, people aspire to live and visitors chose to visit for leisure, Indicators: culture and shopping.

• Quality of the built and natural environment, An innovative partnership between Woking Borough Council and property • Quality of life including cultural and leisure amenities company, Moyallen, under the brand Woking Shopping, has developed a • Perception of place by local and external users master plan comprising a series of town centre initiatives designed to • Desirability of the town as a ‘destination’ sustainably rejuvenate the core of Woking. It has already delivered a step • External surveys such as Halifax & Legatum Index change in the retail environment in the town centre, through two successful developments within the past three years – Commercial Way and Jubilee Square Overview Place-making is a collaborative process that brings together design, The first stage of redevelopment has taken place in the heart of Woking at development and regeneration to create environments in which people want Jubilee Square with the creation of a quality public space. This involved major to live, work and play and that harnesses the distinct characteristics and structural changes, with a striking façade joining the town’s two shopping strengths that make a place special and unique. centres together, the creation of ‘Market Walk’ a covered artisan market in autumn 2014. The second stage of this development was to significantly Woking already has a number of assets that contribute to the sense of place refurbish and upgrade Commercial Way with new public realm, reconfigured including: retail units and the creation of a ‘casual dining’ quarter attracting key • Natural assets: Woking’s waterways including the Basingstoke Canal and restaurant brands to the town. River Wey Navigation; Woking Park; Brookwood Country Park; Horsell Common; Pyrford Common; Heather Farm and easy access to surrounding Woking secured the World Wildlife Fund’s relocation of its international HQ to countryside the town in the form of the ‘Living Planet Centre’ which was completed as • Cultural and heritage assets: the Lightbox, the Ambassadors Theatre, the state-of-the art BREEAM ‘outstanding’ eco-friendly building, with Cultural Zone, the Muslim Heritage Centre, the Surrey History Centre, the environmentally intelligent design and features, offering public access and World Wildlife Centre, Woking Palace, Brookwood Cemetery educational facilities. New Central also opened, a new and exciting high-rise • Festivals including Celebrate Woking, Woking Dance, Woking Drama, development in the heart of Woking providing a mix of 450 apartments, Woking Music, Woking Food and Drink and Woking Canal Festivals leisure, office space and retail units. • Sport and leisure facilities including eleven golf courses, three at Par 72 Other major redevelopment projects in the B orough include Victoria Square What the evidence shows which follows on from successful projects at Jubilee Square (completed) and Commercial Way, both of which serve to improve the shopping environment Quality of the built and natural environment and create new civic space for shoppers, visitors to the town and for The town centre is undergoing a major transformation, with an estimated businesses. It includes proposals for: £500m of public and private funds committed over the next five years. The • a total of 10,967sqm of new retail floor-space

- 35 - • a 190-bed, four-star hotel, with spa, gym, conference facilities & dining Celebrate Woking: this programme of events, initially a London 2012 legacy • a new feature restaurant overlooking Victoria Square project, was designed not only to stimulate visits to the town and generate • space for a medical centre retail footfall but to also help start changing perceptions of the town. Tentpole • 392 Residential Apartments in two towers events such as the annual Food & Drink Festival and Party in the Park, were • additional car parking (380 spaces) underpinned by a diary of regular smaller events. In 2016 the programme • 2 new civic spaces - Victoria Square and a new covered square devised and undertook an ambitious year-long celebration of former Woking • a local energy centre resident HG Wells, exploiting the local ‘War of the Worlds’ heritage. Such • new highway arrangements. events continue to showcase the ‘new’ Woking to locals and visitors alike, helping to change past perceptions of the town and stimulate positive Public realm: As well as these major developments, the public realm continues feedback whether word of mouth or via social media. to be improved and the area between Alexander House and Provincial House has been enhanced, with: Arts & Culture: The value of cultural sector is estimated to be worth over • new high quality granite paving, street furniture, lighting, cycle hoops and £27bn per annum, employing circa 650,000 people in 201533. Woking has a wayfinders long association with the theatre as home to the international HQ of • new species of Sweetgum and Elm trees Ambassadors Theatre Group, which operate over 40 theatrical venues • façade and canopy enhancements to Wolsey Place Shopping Centre worldwide including Woking’s own Ambassadors Theatre complex. More • upgrades to the CCTV system recently in 2007 the award–winning Lightbox museum and art-gallery opened • the creation of a new square at the eastern end of Commercial Way housed in its distinctive building alongside Victoria Way. Woking has for some adjacent to Mercia Walk and Church Path time invested in public art, the 1998 HG Wells Martian tripod statue becoming • space for occasional specialist markets and events. synonymous with the town, since then additional public art has been added celebrating both local notable people and events such as the 2012 Olympics. A second phase of the Commercial Way enhancement works, from Chapel Street towards Cawsey Way, will be completed as part of the ongoing Wolsey Woking also is widening its cultural reach to embrace its unique heritage Place asset management works and completed with the proposed Victoria through the development of the Peace Garden at the Muslim Burial Ground Square development. and greater integration with Woking’s Shah Jahan Mosque, the first purpose- built mosque in the United Kingdom. Through Woking Borough Council’s Improved restaurant offer: Following the refurbishment of Commercial Way, purchase of Brookwood Cemetery, also known as the London Necropolis, it a ‘casual dining’ quarter has formed with a number of key operators including has secured the future of the largest cemetery in the UK (over 500 acres with Bill’s, Carluccio's, Las Iguanas and Cote Brasserie all opening in the town since over 235,000 internments) and one of the ten largest cemeteries in the World. 2012. These as well as Tante Marie, a part of the internationally acclaimed Long-term plans are being developed to restore the cemetery and its parkland culinary school, now trade on the newly refurbished Commercial Way. grounds back to its former glory. Additional restaurant brands are expected to open in 2017 and beyond.

33 Economic estimates of DCMS Sectors, August 2016; Creative Industries Focus on Employment, June 2016, DCMS.

- 36 - Outside Woking Town Centre: Sustainability and Natural Capital

The proposed Sheerwater Regeneration Scheme includes the demolition of Woking has long prioritised ‘sustainability’ as being at the core of its operation, 576 homes and other existing non-residential buildings and sports facilities. this is highlighted within its overarching “Woking 2050 – Vision for a This will be replaced with a mixed-use development comprising of up to 922 Sustainable Borough” adopted in September 2015. More recently the value residential units. It will also include retail space, a community centre, and importance of Woking’s often underappreciated natural environment has nursery/children’s centre, leisure centre, health centre, sports pitch, public been recognised in Woking’s “Natural Woking - Biodiversity and Green open space and associated infrastructure. Infrastructure Strategy” adopted in March 2016.

In West Byfleet, Woking Borough’s main second centre, the long-awaited The concept of ‘Natural Capital’ has recently been recognised an important redevelopment of Sheer House and adjacent retail space is moving closer element of wider economic development34. Looking at our natural assets such following the sale of the site and public consultation on redevelopment as geology, soil, habitats, water, air, open spaces as an important resource options in 2016. A mixed-use development of residential, commercial and needed to support human activity including economic activity and growth. retail space with improved public realm is the most likely option. Locally the Surrey Nature Partnership have recently published “Naturally Also in West Byfleet the long standing redevelopment of the Broadoaks site Richer - A Natural Capital Investment Strategy for Surrey” in which the case appears to be moving forward with owners Octagon stating on their website for recognising and protecting Surrey’s natural capital is made35. Promoting “A mix of new residential properties including apartments, townhouses and Woking’s sustainability credentials and quality of its own natural capital will substantial family houses will be built in spacious grounds, with centrepiece become an increasingly important differentiator when competing against Grade II listed mansion. Adjoining Broadoaks Park will be a new independent other Global business locations. Woking’s juxtaposition of highly urban co-ed secondary school for pupils from 11-18 years….Building will commence environments, directly adjacent to naturally rich environments, easily in Spring 2017”. accessible via an extensive network of pathways and canal routes offers residents, workers and visitors an increasingly important opportunity to Woking Town’s urban predominance, often hides the rural credentials of the escape from normal day to day life pressures. Borough, with approximately 60% of the Borough designated as Green Belt outside the urban core there are hundreds of acres of countryside to be enjoyed in. Woking’s countryside blends open heathland, woodland and waterside habitats, providing opportunities for walking, horseriding, cycling and fishing.

34 Giles Atkinson Professor of Environmental Policy in the Department of Geography and Environment and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment at the 35 https://surreynaturepartnership.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/naturally-richer-a-natural- London School of Economics. ‘Natural Capital & Economic Growth’ Sept 2015 capital-investment-strategy-for-surrey.pdf

- 37 - What the consultation has found Respondents pointed to the need that all cultural and heritage assets need to be celebrated, for example the Muslim heritage is a unique asset which is not Consultees felt Woking offered urban living surrounded by greenbelt, both of well known and could become a popular and unique attraction. which are needed for a balanced economy and sustainable environment for residents and business. It was felt that Woking’s natural capital including countryside, commons, open-spaces and the canal were underexploited and could be better promoted Improvements and townscaping in central Woking were agreed to have made to counter the concrete urban perception of the wider Borough. a big impact yet more is needed in the wider town centre and West Byfleet. There was generally positive feedback regarding the 2016 HG Wells Consultees were supportive of festivals and events, particularly Celebrate Celebration, although a few respondents felt that HG Wells was becoming Woking which was felt to be a strong programme of community events and outdated as a USP and that there was a need to find something to which the Food Festival is a particular strength. younger people can relate. Woking should be celebrated for what it is: a young, vibrant town, rather than the home of a 19th Century author. There was acknowledgement about the improvement in the retail offer but a widely held belief that the town still lacked many key and emerging retail It was suggested by a number of consultees that Woking needed a number of brands associated with a top-class retail destination. high-profile town ‘ambassadors’ who would help promote the town and change external perceptions. Musicians Paul Weller and (now deceased) Rick There was some feedback that the older Chertsey Road, Chobham Road, High Parfitt were cited as possible modern ambassadors for Woking. Street area had been neglected within the main town regeneration and that these areas needed to be included in future investment plans.

There was positive feedback over the new restaurants locating in the town, yet still some negative feedback over the wider non-food evening economy in terms of poor quality pubs, clubs and cinema offer.

The need for Woking to have a USP, something it was known for was cited by a number of consultees, whether an iconic building, a sports team or being the home of an internationally renowned brand such as McLaren.

Opportunities around association with the McLaren brand such as a visitor centre, McLaren ‘experience’, racing cars on roundabouts were again cited by consultees, including frustration over past promises of a visitor centre.

- 38 - Theme 5: Place Making: Summary of Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities Woking as the home of McLaren, with its F1 heritage openly on show and a Woking Borough Council continues to drive forward the development of McLaren visitor centre have previously been cited as aspirations for the town. Woking to provide the housing, commercial and retail space that the growing This seemingly achievable goal should continue to be pursued by the town’s resident and business populations will require. Significant improvements have leaders, especially in light of senior management changes at the company. been made to the quality of the built environment and facilities the town offers, as well as to the public realm and to the range of cultural facilities, Shopping remains one of the nation’s most popular pastimes, but huge leisure opportunities, festivals and events. All these help to build a sense of structural changes in shopper habits as the internet becomes exponentially place and build loyalty to the town and optimism for the future. more powerful and retailers switch from ‘bricks’ to ‘clicks’ presents Woking a significant short-medium and long-term term challenge. Brexit will present both challenges and opportunities, at present the town benefits from its adjacency to London and near Europe. Businesses can locate Lacking the cachet of Guildford or status of a Westfield, Woking has managed in Woking at lower cost than London, yet enjoy many of the benefits including to retain an increasingly strong retail offer when many similar sized and ranked excellent transport links to Europe via road, rail and air. Woking will soon have centres have lost theirs. Yet the consumer move from ‘bricks’ to ‘clicks’ is to compete in a new market environment, its quality of place will be an inexorable and in light of significant cost increases such as business rates, important differentiating factor against stiff competition from both other UK rentals and staffing costs (minimum wage and apprenticeship levy) retailers locations and increasingly European locations. Basingstoke is already ramping- are increasingly reducing the size of their store base, many now only looking up its inward investment offer. for a presence in the top-100 UK locations, some even focusing on the top-50 ranked centres. The success of Victoria Square will be a significant catalyst in sending a bold message that despite market and political uncertainly Woking is open for Woking if it is to maintain its status as a retail centre must continue to and business and investing in the future. In line with this, Celebrate Woking should prioritise attracting the best and newest brands to the town. The offer has to include within its remit a strand of activity directly targeted at promoting the shift from ‘commodity’ to ‘experiential’ giving the shopper something that Woking brand for inward investment. As the details of Brexit become clear and cannot be achieved on the internet. The development of the ‘casual dining’ new international trading partners are identified Woking needs to be offer will help but as with retailers, attracting the key brands in the right proactively marketing itself as ‘the’ location from which to be based within the location is paramount. SE economic area. Significant improvements to the public realm such as Jubilee Square and Consultation feedback has consistently identified a lack of ‘Unique Selling Commercial Way help support the retail offer, as does the availability of Point’ for Woking, something that it is instantly known for. Whether a truly nearby quality parking. Woking’s car-parks although both adjacent to and landmark building, a major-league sports team or venue, a top-flight university linked to the core shopping, using pay on exit and card payments, now need or being the home of an internationally recognised brand (such as McLaren). to be offering an exemplary service. Accurate space management and real- There lies a challenge to identify and pursue what Woking could be known for. time information, individual space availability indicators, touchless payment, app technology such as RingGo, number plate recognition and barrier-free access should all be in the development pipeline to ensure Woking’s car- parking is considered as a locational advantage by shoppers.

- 39 -

Regular events and combined leisure experiences have to be offered to give consumers a reason to visit the town, against the ease and sometimes price advantage of internet shopping. Woking’s cinema offer is dated, audiences will Ref: Place Making: Priorities for action - summary 36 37 now travel to an IMAX screen and 4DX experience over and above a PM 1 Continue with town centre redevelopment through major standard 2D presentation. Woking should be actively targeting the location of schemes such as Victoria Square a new state-of-the art operator to the town offering IMAX and 4DX facilities. PM 2 Continue investment in public realm infrastructure throughout the Borough The supporting environment also has to be second to none in quality, key PM 3 Continued investment in the Celebrate Woking programme, but infrastructure experiences such as parking needs to be state of the art, with widening remit to include inward investment proposition the latest technology, intuitive, rapid and convenient. Town-wide free wi-fi or PM 4 Attract sought after and key retail brands to improve the Woking availability of fast all-network mobile voice and data connectivity is essential, Shopping offer, ensure continued investment in shopper parking especially for the always-connected generations. PM 5 Upgrade the cinema offer, possibly attracting an IMAX and 4DX

cinema operator to the town Woking is also a Borough not just the town, its secondary centre of West PM 6 Develop key visitor attractions such as Muslim Heritage sites and Byfleet is on the cusp of a major a mixed-use redevelopment project centering Canal development such as the basin marina plans on Sheer House. Anchored by a popular Waitrose supermarket West Byfleet has significant development potential which should not be overshadowed by PM 7 Continue to pursue a McLaren visitor centre and greater the focus on Woking town centre. recognition of McLaren brand in relation to Woking as its home PM 8 Continue to prioritise provision of quality hospitality operators, The Borough although perceived as an urban area has significant natural including +4* hotel operator and quality restaurants capital being 60% metropolitan green belt. As part of Celebrate Woking there PM 9 Develop the Woking brand further –young, dynamic and diverse – is a challenge to rebalance the urban perception of Woking, further live, work and play and Woking’s place in the regional offer celebrating its countryside, common land and canal. PM 10 Consider a Woking landmark building like London’s Shard, Gherkin or Cheesegrater Competitive indices such as the Halifax Quality of Life Index, The UK PM 11 Promote Woking’s natural capital including countryside, Competitiveness Index and Legatum Prosperity Index are published regularly commons and canal alongside the urban offer and often secure media coverage. Woking has previously featured within the PM 12 Analyse competitive comparative indices and identify issues that Halifax index although failed to make the 2016 index, is 33rd in the UK can be addressed thus improving Woking’s future rankings rd Competitiveness Index and 33 in the Legatum prosperity index. Although normally ranked well within the Surrey cohort there are opportunities to address the indicators behind these indices and improve Woking’s ranking.

36 IMAX is an extra wide, curved screen with enhanced light levels, digital projector and 37 4DX is a cinema system with augmented environmental effects such as seat motion, wind, powerful Dolby sound system, licenced by the IMAX corporation rain, fog, lights, and scents along with the standard video and audio.

- 40 - A Vision for Woking 2050

41 1. Population growth and urban living A 2050 Vision for Woking’s Economy According to Eurostat population projection data38, the UK will become the most populous country in the European Union by 2050 with population Introduction continuing to grow from 65 million in 2016 to more than 77 million by 2050. In just 30 years, there have been great changes to the global economic, By 2080, Eurostat predicts that the UK will have the largest population (85 political, social, and environmental landscape. Technological advances have million) of all the (current) EU Member States with over half of that growth also been rapid, not least in respect of our use of mobile devices. Since the accounted for by net migration. first mobile phones went on sale 34 years ago, mobile technology has now come to revolutionise almost every aspect of life and over the next 30 years, The UK’s population is also ageing. The percentage of the total population the possibilities are astonishing. 3D printing, for example, will soon offer us aged over 60 is predicted to rise from 23% to nearly 29% in 2036 and 31% in the ability to print in a wide range of materials and on a range of scales. 2056 (ONS 201339). With people living longer, so there will be a need for policy Perhaps we will see the first 3D printed buildings in Woking by 2050. The makers to tackle issues around health and care in old age as well as the world’s first 3D printed house has already been ‘built’ in China. The housing needs of an ageing population. From an economic development application of ‘big data’ and the ‘internet of things’ is also going to radically perspective, the chances are that people will want to be working longer too reshape the way that we, as a Council, deliver our services. which will require consideration of employment and skills issues.

In economic development terms, we face significant changes, challenges and Of particular importance to Woking is the predicted growth of London’s opportunities over the next 30 years. These include the global challenges population to over 11 million by 205040 (currently 8.6 million). Woking’s associated with climate change, global market volatility, peak oil and proximity to London presents some very real challenges in terms of the population growth. Closer to home, we will need to respond to the UK’s provision of housing and the impact on transport, health provision, schools decision to leave the EU as well as other planned (and unforeseen) and opens spaces to support or even counter London’s growth. developments that are likely to have an impact on the Woking economy. Woking’s own population projections currently go out as far as 2039 and show In response to these future challenges and opportunities, Woking Borough a 13% predicted increase in population from 99,000 in 2014 to 112,000 in Council is seeking to deliver a strategic, long-term vision to support smart and 203941. The data also predicts a 19% increase in the total number of Woking sustainable economic growth for the Borough to 2050. We have already households from 40,000 in 2014 to 47,000 in 203942 driven in large part by published Woking 2050: A Vision for a Sustainable Borough that presents our increased numbers of single person households. overarching vision to create a sustainable Borough by reducing its impact on the environment. We now need to focus on the other ‘big picture’ issues Against the backdrop of a growing and ageing population, Woking faces some which will form the basis of our ongoing 2050 visioning work. significant challenges in meeting the needs of its own population and that of nearby London. Given current land use and planning constraints (e.g. Green Belt), new development is likely to be intensified in existing urban areas.

38 www.ec.europa.eu/eurostat 41 2014-based Subnational Population Projections for Local Authorities in England: Table 2 39 Source: Key stats on older people, ageing and Age UK (Age UK, November 2014) (Source: ONS) 40 London Infrastructure Plan 2050 – Update (Mayor of London, 2015) 42 2014-based Household projections for England and local authority districts (Source: DCLG)

42 legacy lasting up to and beyond 2050. London’s skyline is now dominated by In the UK, there is already a growing trend towards urban living43. In the UK, landmark buildings such as the ‘Cheesegrater’, ‘Gherkin’, ‘Shard’ and ‘Walkie and especially in the South East, urban settlements face the challenges of Talkie’ there is an opportunity to create similar iconic buildings in Woking. managing that growth while balancing environmental considerations, diminishing natural resources and space constraints. However these need to be designed for 2050 occupation, incorporating a concepts that promotes resilient communities, space suitable for sole In meeting the growing need for housing, Woking will need to consider higher occupation right through to multi-generational families and retired people. density living solutions, particularly in its urban areas. This development will Quality safe communal spaces and where possible access to green ‘breathing’ need to take place alongside innovative and forward-thinking planning and space and leisure facilities. Many of the world’s top architectural practices are urban design to ensure that higher density living does not lead to lower quality wrestling with ideas for super-tall buildings, Woking is one of the very few of life. With the intensification of living in urban areas comes the need for towns within Surrey that could accommodate such an aspiration. planners to pay even more attention to the provision of shared space within the urban environment – green corridors, the greening of buildings, and the Micro-apartment living innovative design of the public realm - to create a balance between the public With the growth in higher density urban living and the trend towards single realm and private realm. person households, Woking will also need to consider the role of micro- apartment living44 in an attempt to accommodate more people in the future. The following issues have been identified as some of the important The challenges include how to do so affordably, comfortably and with enough considerations in the development of higher density urban living: privacy to make these spaces homes as well as housing. A West Midlands charity called the Homeless Foundation has developed the iKozie – a single- Super-tall buildings person home measuring just 17.25 sq m whose design was inspired by yacht With London and the South East in the middle of a population boom that interiors and first-class airline suites. (Average size 1 bed flat is 25-50 sq m) shows no sign of slowing down, it will be important for Woking to look at a range of options to achieve both the housing and work space needs of the The greening of urban areas future. Tall buildings can play a role in meeting some of that demand. Unlike The higher density developments of tomorrow will require innovative and cities in Asia and Latin America, high rise living has not featured prominently sustainable ways to build in green and open space within the public realm. in the UK and for many, the perception of high rise living remains tarnished by Woking has the opportunity to lead the way in the greening of its urban memories of social housing schemes of the 1960s. While a lot more is now environment, benefiting from its very own green ‘corridor’ (the canal) which known about building tall towers and planning for high density living, there is passes right through the heart of the town. still more work that needs to be done to understand how towers work as places where people want to live and in which neighbourhoods can thrive. In-line with feedback on creating exemplar themes for Woking, the potential for Woking to have a number of notable, landmark super-tall buildings presents an opportunity that could be delivered within ten-years but have a

43 Urban demographics: Why people live where they do (Elli Thomas, Ilona Serwicka & Paul 44 Are tiny houses and micro-apartments the future of urban homes? (The Guardian, 25 August Swinney, Centre for Cities, November 2015) 2014)

43 There are many other case studies from around the world that can be used to 2. Transport Infrastructure and Peak Oil inspire green and sustainable developments in Woking. These include roof Like most other local authorities, Woking has seen a significant rise in car gardens or vertical gardens (i.e. planting on the façades of buildings such as ownership over the last 35 years. In 1981, the Census showed that there were the Athenaeum Hotel in London) or the creation of more ambitious projects 31,000 cars owned by Woking households. By 2011 that figure had almost such as solar ‘super trees’ in Singapore. doubled to 56,500 cars. The average number of cars per household has also increased. In 1981, 30% of households owned two or more vehicle and, by 2011, that figure had risen to 44% of Woking households.

Over the same period, the world has started to take seriously the prospect of ‘peak oil’ – i.e. predictions that global oil production will peak and then decline over the next few decades with a resulting increase in oil prices. Some believe that when oil production decreases, modern society will be forced to change its views on car ownership and car-based travel although this will depend upon the rate of decline and development of effective alternatives.

Irrespective of peak oil, it is likely that there will be some significant changes in the way that we travel by 2050, supported by advances in transport technology. In turn, this will inevitably change the nature of our urban areas.

Some of the key considerations for Woking include:

Source: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg Electric vehicles: The rise in the use of electric vehicles is already established and will have implications for the future design of roads, parking bays and new Singapore’s solar super trees are vertical gardens, between 25 and 50 metres housing developments. Production of electricity is also forecast to become in height, which have been designed to mimic the ecological functions of real cleaner and cheaper (e.g. increased efficiencies in solar production) making trees. The structures are planted to create habitats and micro-climates for a electric vehicles more affordable and environmentally sustainable. In turn, variety of flora and fauna. Each structure is fitted with photovoltaic cells that urban living is likely to become quieter and less polluted. collect and store solar energy throughout the day – power that is used to illuminate the garden when the sun goes down each night. Their unique shape Piloted parking: Car manufacturers have already developed vehicles that can serves as rainwater collectors to help funnel water to fountain displays and make their own way into a parking space (without the need for a driver). This is irrigation systems. They are both important to the visitor economy as well as not only about convenience for the driver. Automated parking also enables a providing important environmental and sustainable habitats for the city. completely new, space-saving type of design for car parks creating opportunities 45 in urban areas for more ‘liveable space’

45 Audi Urban Future Initiative: How will cars and city become connected in 2050? (Inhabitat, 26 November 2014)

44 Interconnectivity: It is the vision of many cities around the world to create an particularly attractive. The implications for those in driving-based jobs are less environment in which residents no longer rely on their own personal cars to attractive. In England, there are almost 300,000 taxi or private-hire-vehicle get around but instead use a combination of public transport, shared cars and driver licences and 600,000 people registered drivers of heavy goods vehicles48 bikes, supported by real-time data. For this to work, urban planners will need - jobs that could well become redundant with the advent of autonomous to focus on developing the interconnectivity of multi-modal forms of vehicles. transport. Car-free: The model of denser and less car-dependent cities of the future is Peak car: It is predicted that there will be a move away from car ownership becoming widely accepted across the developed world. Car-free and car altogether – sometimes referred to as ‘peak car’46. Rising costs associated reduction brings many potential benefits to the urban environment (e.g. the with buying and running vehicles is already leading to a greater use of car potential for conversion of car parks to green, public spaces and safer, quieter, rental, car clubs and on-demand taxi services such as Uber, especially among less polluted pedestrianised environments). the millennial generation and those living in urban settlements. Peak car is also likely to lead to a growth in mass transit options. In Hackney, the council Smart roads: Even car-free urban environments will still require roads. is championing car-free developments and guaranteeing alternatives to Traditionally, roads have been relatively low-tech but the roads of the future personally-owned cars, including a commitment that every resident will live are predicted to be more ‘intelligent’ – built with sensors, data capture within three minutes of a car-club bay. capabilities, the ability to be responsive to changes in the environment and, perhaps most importantly, offering connectivity with its users. Roads of the Super-fast: In time, Woking will need to consider how it can fit into wider future will be able ‘talk’ to cars, bicycles and traffic lights, collecting data from super-fast transport systems. While these may be some many years away its users and responding to it. Planners are already testing roads that can from development, concepts currently on the table for testing in 2017 include charge vehicles as they drive along them and temperature-controlled paint to Hyperloop47 - a super-fast, pod-based transport system that would offer low warn road users of dangers49. cost mass transport alternatives to railways and other public transport.

Drones: The potential for using drones to deliver goods is already being explored but their use in the monitoring of the public environment is already well underway too. In the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, for example, police-operated drones are currently being used to combat town centre crime.

Driverless/autonomous vehicles: As the desire for individual car ownership is predicted to decline, so the opportunities for smart, driverless cars are likely to grow. Being able to call up a car with your mobile phone to take you to your destination, with no need to park it and only paying for distance travelled is

46 End of the car age: how cities are outgrowing the automobile (Stephen Moss in The 48 With Trump and Uber, the driverless future could turn into a nightmare (John Harris, the Guardian, 28 April 2015) Guardian, 16 December 2016) 47 www.hyperloop-one.com 49 www.arup.com/future_of_highways

45 available and usable by many different projects at once. Each project is managed by ’Bristol Is Open’ – a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council.

As populations grow and resources become scarcer, being able to use those limited resources in more efficient ways will become vitally important. Advances in technology are quickly paving the way for smart cities. Smart cities use information and communications technologies to deliver sustainable economic development and a higher quality of life for its residents. Developments in software, hardware and telecommunication networks are enabling more interaction between people and places and more machine-to- machine communication, creating an ‘internet of things’. Opening up and making sense of this is giving people a greater ability to interact with their environment. Using data sensors, smart city technologies can respond in real- time to everyday events including congestion, waste management, entertainment events, e-democracy, energy supply and more. Examples might include intelligent street lighting which will switch itself off to conserve energy when there is no one around, mapping energy use around the city to better understand demand, and mapping how people get around to maximise the use of bicycle and footpaths50. Source: www.arup.com/future_of_highways Other important technological developments which are likely to have an impact on 2050 Woking include: 3. Big Data and Smart Cities Big Data attracts a lot of interest but its full potential is still being explored. Artificial intelligence – computers are becoming better at understanding the The concept is relatively simple – the capture, storage and analysis of large world and taking on the jobs currently done by humans. This has significant and varied data sets to reveal patterns and trends. For local authorities, the Implications for future employment and skills. analysis of big data can help to spot trends, tailor services and prevent problems from occurring. By providing the opportunity to analyse how people Smart medical devices – medical devices working with mobile devices to behave, it is a perfect tool for the planning and creation of smart cities. Bristol, monitor and predict health risks. for example, has launched a cutting edge research and development project that uses Bristol’s digital infrastructure (fibre in the ground, a mesh bouncing E-democracy – How citizens make national and local decisions could radically from lamppost to lamppost across the City, and a mile of experimental change by 2050 via the development of E-democracy (electronic democracy). wireless connectivity along Harbourside) to collect and make ‘big data’

50 How Big Data And The Internet Of Things Create Smarter Cities (Forbes, 19 May, 2015)

46 Although there are many challenges and barriers to overcome the urban greenhouses) technological developments in personal ICT and electronic decision making and voting, currently mainly used for entertainment purposes could easily • Sustainable building design using green building principles such as passive support national and local decision making via citizen’s online referendums, solar (windows, walls and floors made to collect, store, and distribute solar voting and polling. energy), natural ventilation and natural cooling. A rainwater harvesting system, geothermal heating systems, Woking will need to put in place responses to some of the challenges associated with digital exclusion among its resident population, data security A disused office in The Hague has been revamped as an urban greenhouse, and privacy issues. with a fish farm operating on the floor below. At the top of an empty 1950s office block that once belonged to Philips, tomatoes, vegetables and trendy ‘microgreens’ are now being grown in a 1,200 square metre rooftop 4. Environment and Climate Change greenhouse. The vision is to be able to serve 900 local families, plus While our urban environments have traditionally been the centres of restaurants and a cooking school with 500 tilapia (fish) a week and 50 tonnes commerce, culture and innovation, they have also been large consumers of of rooftop vegetables a year51. energy, adding to greenhouse gas emissions. They are also at particular risk from the challenges associated with climate change. Urban planners around the world are therefore working on solutions to improve the sustainability and environmental impact of cities as well as improve urban resilience (the 5. Working Patterns capacity of individuals, communities, businesses and institutions to survive, Traditional post-war working patterns of a ‘job for life’, Monday-Friday, 9-5 adapt and grow no matter what stresses or shocks they experience). working, retirement at 65 have already been shattered with the move to flexible working practices, increased job-changes, portfolio careers, zero-hour Some of the key areas that Woking will need to consider are: contracts, freelancing, the ‘gig’ economy, home-based working, hot-desking and move towards an older retirement age via a phased semi-retirement. Tackling the threats of both flooding as well as ‘peak water’ (the growing constraints on the availability, quality, and use of freshwater resources) This strategic shift in working practices is set to continue towards 2050, with through the use of water efficient buildings (e.g. green roofs, green façades expected greater flexibility of working patterns across a full seven-day period, and intelligent management systems), rainwater harvesting and greywater rarely based at a fixed office but utilising home-working, local-hubs and hot- recycling desking as a common part of the working life. Hours worked may reduce in line with greater automation and loss of unskilled • Designing for a low carbon future and renewable energy sources and semi-skilled jobs. Current skilled but process driven jobs such as basic legal work and accountancy may also become automated via intelligent computing. • Local food production – reducing food miles and growing food in urban It is predicted that 40% of employment roles will be lost to automation52. areas through urban farming (rooftop, underground, vertical farming and

51 Greenhouse in the Sky: Inside Europe’s biggest urban farm (The Guardian, 27 April 2016) 52 Oxford university economists Dr Carl Frey and Dr Michael Osborne

47 The retirement age is likely to continue to increase in line with life expectancy reduce down to less than 100 regional shopping ‘megacentres’ where the and financial restraints on pensions both private and state. Following 2015’s experiential element of the shopping leisure activity would be guaranteed. ONS release of life expectancy forecasts many UK pension providers predicted the retirement age would rise to at least 70 by 2050. A move away from consumerism to experiential fulfilment is already being seen within Generation Y and Generation Z53 which have been labelled the These changes will impact on towns such as Woking in terms of its resident ‘rental’ generation who are looking at complete ownership of an asset as a population needs and its place as a commercial and employment centre. waste, when use of it can be rented when needed, giving flexibility to change Traditional commuting outflow and inflow patterns could shift significantly as and upgrade at will. In terms of property giving flexibility to rapidly move to the need to commute decreases. Flexible working patterns would potentially where work is, with cars to avoid fixed costs and depreciation, with phones to even out the traditional weekend peak for shopping and leisure activities as ensure they have the latest model. people incorporate leisure and work across a full seven-day period. This trend is expected to continue on beyond lifestyle purchases into property ownership where ownership of a property becomes unachievable for many and renting becomes the norm, closer aligning to rental levels experienced in 6. Shopping 2050 mainland Europe e.g. 60% of Germans rent their property. The recent The exponential shift from traditional shopping to internet based shopping is Government Housing White Paper gives the strongest strategic push towards set to continue, with new disruptors such as local 3D printing of products set property rental vs. ownership for any recent Conservative Government. to again revolutionise how we buy things. Artificial Intelligence aided and Virtual Reality (VR) shopping is being predicted to further erode the viability of the traditional bricks and mortar High Street, with immediate delivery via autonomous drone vehicles.

Therefore, the experiential value of a shopping destination will become even more critical in terms of attracting people to visit, whether for combined leisure and social reasons, or to experience an event that cannot be enjoyed online or via virtual reality. The changes to personal transport highlighted 2050 Vision: Summary of Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities previously will potentially impact on revenue generation from car parking, Woking has already started to consider 2050 within its Woking 2050: A Vision which for many local authorities is a significant source of revenue income. for a Sustainable Borough strategy, however 2050 is also going to present a number of wider economic challenges: Retailers are already shifting investment to more online services, VR augmented shopping and ultra-fast delivery and returns services. Therefore Parking revenue will potentially change in line with changes to car ownership they will become even more selective as to which locations they chose to have and use patterns. Therefore the public assets of large car-parks generating a physical ‘bricks and mortar’ store representation in. This could potentially significant revenue income will have to be reviewed regularly.

53 Generation Y born 1977-1994, Generation Z born 1995-2012 (WJSchroer)

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The need for investment in ICT infrastructure will increase exponentially as Ref: 2050 Vision: Priorities for action we move towards an even more data driven society. Access to and analysis 2050V 1 Woking 2050: A Vision for a Sustainable Borough should be of ‘Big Data’ will help shape and design future public services. updated to include economic factors and regularly updated to

reflect emerging trends and studies. The role of the Council in providing quality green space and better public 2050V 2 Woking’s revenue stream from car parking needs to be 2050 realm becomes even greater as many more people will live in higher density proofed ahead of strategic changes to car ownership and use accommodation, most likely super-tall, hi-rise blocks. patterns

The concept of ‘citizenship’ could become more prevalent, as our society 2050V 3 Plans for supertall, hi-rise residential apartments need to be becomes more multicultural and diverse, the need for citizens to embrace an 2050 proofed in terms of predicted needs for families, single agreed set of national values and principles may become more necessary. people, home-working, employment hubs and communal space. Technological developments in E-democracy could change how people are 2050V 4 Woking Shopping should invest in a 2050 strategy to identify represented with some decisions could be made via e-referendums, e-voting developments needed to maintain its relevance as a shopping and polling. destination as consumer behaviour continues to move from commodity to experiential shopping. The social wellbeing aspect of place management widens, the Council’s role to manage the ‘place’ becomes more important.

The delineation between commercial and residential blurs further as more people work from home. Work hubs are increasingly incorporated into residential developments.

Woking Shopping has to become more ‘experiential’ offering goods, services and events that cannot be replicated via online retailers

Leisure activities become an increasing priority for the 2050 population, the Council will have a key role in supporting community events and providing leisure services for residents, workers and visitors.

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